“I am ready to hold talks with UML to end House deadlock” (With video)

KATHMANDU: Speaker Agni Sapkota said that he is ready to hold talks with the main opposition CPN-UML to end the House deadlock.

Saying that there is no alternative to dialogue, he said that all parties should come to the negotiating table to end the current deadlock in the Parliament.

He said that everyone should play an equal role to enhance the dignity of the Parliament.

Speaker Sapkota claimed that he has not taken any biased decisions yet.

Saying that he was aware that he should play a neutral, impartial and independent role while making decisions, Sapkota said that he is hopeful that a positive environment will be created within October 26.

Meanwhile, he denied the allegations that he has not played an effective role in the Parliament.

Saying that the Parliament is the soul of democracy, he said that the Speaker and lawmakers should play an instrumental role to protect it.

The UML has been obstructing the House proceedings since the very first meeting of the ongoing session questioning the role of Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota after he expressed his reluctance to remove 14 lawmakers of the party’s dissident Madhav Nepal faction from their positions.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba also called an all-party meeting to persuade the UML to end the House obstruction. But, none of the UML lawmakers attended the meeting.