Kathmandu, June 6: Both houses of the Federal Parliament are meeting today amid ongoing obstruction by opposition parties, who are demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over the visit visa scandal.

The House of Representatives is set to convene at 1:00 pm, where Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel will submit a proposal to discuss the annual revenue and expenditure estimates for the fiscal year 2082–83. Additionally, Ramhari Khatiwada, Chair of the State Arrangement and Good Governance Committee, will present the Committee Report on the Federal Civil Service Bill.

The National Assembly will meet at 1:15 pm to continue deliberations on the same budget.

However, parliamentary proceedings remain disrupted as opposition MPs continue to block sessions, demanding Lekhak’s resignation and the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee. Their protest comes in light of the arrest of Tirtharaj Bhattarai, the Director General of Immigration and Joint Secretary at the Home Ministry, in connection with alleged irregularities in issuing visit visas.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is currently probing Bhattarai, having taken his first statement on May 30. Devices including mobile phones and laptops have also been seized for analysis.

Despite the ongoing investigation, opposition lawmakers argue that Minister Lekhak must take political responsibility for the scandal occurring under his ministry. They have obstructed parliamentary sessions for 10 consecutive days, only allowing discussion on the budget due to constitutional obligations on May 30.

On Thursday, opposition MPs stood in protest as soon as Speaker Devraj Ghimire opened the session, leading to its adjournment until Friday.

While the opposition demands immediate action, the ruling coalition has rejected the call for Lekhak’s resignation, maintaining that the investigation should be allowed to proceed without political interference.