Kathmandu: In another setback to the Maoists who were pushed out of power in Nepal, Parliament Speaker Subhas Nembang has refused to allow a motion tabled by them against the President's move to block the sacking of the army chief by former premier Prachanda.
The Maoists said they will block Parliament to oppose the decision and press for the acceptance of the motion.
Prachanda had resigned as Prime Minister earlier this month following a dispute with President Ram Baran Yadav over the removal of army chief Gen Rukmangad Katwal, who was locked in a bitter months-long row with the Maoist-led government.
The motion was registered at the Parliament Secretariat by Maoists against the President's move to reinstate the sacked army chief. The Speaker's decision comes after almost all other political parties opposed it, terming it as unconstitutional. They maintained that such a motion cannot be brought against the President.
Speaker Nemwang told Parliament's Business Advisory Committee that the motion stands rejected. He said the decision has been taken based on constitutional, legal provisions and past practices.
The Speaker also said since a polarisation has occurred in Parliament between those lawmakers who registered the motion and those who opposed it, he decided not to take the procedure forward and hence it has been rejected.
Maoist Chief Whip in the Legislature Bahadur Bogati, who was present at the meeting that was to decide the fate of the motion, said his party respected the Speaker's decision but it would continue to press for it in the House.
The Maoist leader has warned that his party would continue blocking the Parliamentary proceedings to oppose the decision.
"I urge the speaker to accept it and start discussions on the motion. Or else, it will invite serious consequences and we will be forced to struggle even within Parliament," said Narayankaji Shrestha, deputy leader of the Maoist Parliamentary Party.