KATHMANDU: During a meeting of top leaders from the three major parties at Singha Durbar, the CPN (Maoist Centre) repeated its demand for Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s resignation over the ongoing visit visa controversy.

The Maoist Centre emphasized that Lekhak must step down to ensure an impartial investigation, echoing the same stance it has maintained in Parliament, where it has led repeated disruptions alongside other opposition lawmakers.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli urged parties to prioritize reopening Parliament and advancing budget discussions.

However, ruling party leaders maintained that since the controversy involves government employees, the Home Minister’s resignation is unnecessary.

Despite the controversy centering on his role, Lekhak was present at the meeting as a representative of the Nepali Congress.

He has participated in similar high-level discussions before.

The meeting, which included Oli, Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ aimed to resolve the ongoing parliamentary stalemate.

Photos from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat showed Lekhak with senior Congress leaders.

Nepali Congress General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma were notably absent.

Ahead of the meeting, the Maoist parliamentary party meeting decided to continue obstructing Parliament until Lekhak resigns.