UML firm on obstructing Lumbini Province Assembly meeting

KATHMANDU, August 23: The main opposition party, CPN-UML has been obstructing the Lumbini Province Assembly meeting recently and has announced to keep obstructing the meeting in coming days as well. The UML has been obstructing the Assembly meeting, demanding the Speaker to dismiss lawmakers Bimala Kumari Khatri Oli and Ajay Bahadur Sahai from their post. However, the Province Secretariat on Sunday stated that Oli and Sahai cannot be dismissed from their post, maintaining that there are no strong bases to do so. The assembly meeting is scheduled to be held at 1 PM on Monday, but the UNL has maintained that it will obstruct the meeting unless lawmakers Oli and Sahai are not removed from their posts.  Bhumeshwar Dhakal, the chief whip of UML , said that the party won’t let the provincial assembly conduct its activities unless lawmakers OLi and Sahai are removed from their posts. Earlier, the UML had urged the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly to sack lawmakers Oli and Sahai from their posts stating that they acted against the party’s whip. The party has also demanded the resignation of the speaker, Purna Bahadur Garti, after he refused to sack lawmakers Oli and Sahai from their post.