KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) parliamentary party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ has come under criticism in the House of Representatives after making remarks questioning the role of the Nepali Army and describing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in controversial terms.

Speaking in Tuesday’s parliamentary session, Badal questioned why the army remained a “silent spectator” during major incidents while also raising concerns about its deployment in border areas and actions against squatters. He asked why the force appeared inactive in some situations but active in others.

In the same address, he also described the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as an “anarchic alliance” driven by ambition rather than ideology, attributing its rise to ruling party weaknesses and global influences.

His remarks triggered strong objections in Parliament.

RSP MP Manish Khanal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party MP Khusbu Oli demanded that his comments be expunged from the parliamentary record, saying they were inappropriate and harmful to institutional dignity and national morale.