Kathmandu, Aug 7: The major opposition party, CPN (UML), persisted in obstructing the proceedings of the National Assembly (NA) today as well. The party is demanding an investigation into the recent smuggling of approximately 100 kilos of gold into the country through Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and insists on the formation of a high-level committee to address the matter.

While the session of the upper house was convened, UML lawmaker Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa (Parbati) declared that the party would continue to disrupt NA’s business until their demand for the establishment of a high-level committee was met.

Rawal accused the government of being complicit in the gold smuggling and emphasized the necessity of forming a high-level body to ensure an ‘impartial’ investigation into the case. She stated, “A comprehensive inquiry by the committee is imperative,” and raised concerns about how someone like Dilip Bhujel, a manual laborer, could register a company under his name. She expressed skepticism about the government’s capability to handle the case without bias.

The obstruction by the party has been ongoing since the seizure of the gold from the Sinamangal area by the Department of Revenue Investigation on July 18.

In response to the protests, NA Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina urged the dissenting members to reconsider their approach and allow the session to proceed. However, the lawmakers persisted in their stance and declined to take their seats, resulting in the adjournment of the meeting until 1:01 pm on August 9.