KATHMANDU: Tensions in House of Representatives escalated further as lawmakers from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) continued obstructing parliamentary proceedings, while CPN (Unified Socialist) lawmaker Ammar Bahadur Thapa tore a copy of the budget document in protest.

As soon as Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced the beginning of Thursday’s session, RSP and RPP lawmakers stood up in dissent. RSP lawmakers moved forward to surround the parliamentary well after MP Hari Dhakal accused the government of ignoring citizens’ voices. RPP lawmakers, meanwhile, boycotted the session entirely.

The two parties have been disrupting House proceedings since May 27, demanding Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s resignation over the visit visa scandal and the formation of either a parliamentary committee or a judicial commission for investigation.

Amid the uproar in Parliament, CPN (Unified Socialist) lawmaker Ammar Bahadur Thapa tore up the government’s budget document for the upcoming fiscal year in protest.

Thapa remarked that the budget presented by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure had failed to address the needs not only of Dailekh but also of many other regions.

“The budget book, prepared with taxpayers’ money, does not uphold accountability to the people,” he said. “That’s why I didn’t like it. I tore it up after seeking permission—thank you,” he added.