The zero hour on Kartik 20, 2052, during the obstruction and boycott of Parliament, became very interesting and shocking.
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During zero hour, MPs in Parliament not only raise pressing issues of citizens with each other, but also engage in political accusations and teasing between parties. Thirty years ago, the sarcasm and criticism among MPs in the House of Representatives was very interesting and provocative.
After the collapse of the minority government in Bhadra 2052, UML was active as the main opposition party in Parliament. UML was very angry with the Supreme Court and the judges for overturning the mid-term elections recommended by the Manmohan Adhikari-led government formed after the mid-term elections.
Chief Justice Bishwanath Upadhyay, who canceled the recommendation, retired in Asoj. UML had filed an impeachment motion in Parliament against Judge Surendra Prasad Singh, who was part of the team that failed the mid-term recommendations. After the Manmohan government was removed from office through a no-confidence motion, Congress parliamentary party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba became Prime Minister with the support of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Nepal Sadbhavana Party.
Initially, UML had adopted a strategy to prevent Singh from becoming the Chief Justice. After Bishwanath, Singh was in line to become the Chief Justice. If Speaker Ramchandra Poudel had taken the impeachment motion for discussion, Singh would not have been appointed as the Chief Justice. Therefore, Speaker Poudel had rejected the impeachment motion on 2nd October 2052, saying that it was not appropriate to discuss it. After the impeachment motion was rejected, Singh was appointed as the Chief Justice.
Even after Singh was appointed as the Chief Justice, UML MPs were raising their voices in Parliament from time to time, saying that the Speaker had rejected the motion registered by taking away the rights of MPs. They were demanding that the impeachment motion be discussed in Parliament. In that context, UML MPs boycotted the Parliament on 20th Kartik 2052, demanding that the impeachment motion be moved forward. ![[Archive] What was seen in the zero hour three decades ago...](https://assets-cdn.ekantipur.com/uploads/source/news/kantipur/2025/miscellaneous/page1kpr-31122025103232-1000x0.jpg)
During the obstruction and boycott of Parliament, the zero hour on 20th Kartik 2052 in Parliament became very interesting and shocking. Immediately after the start of the zero hour, UML MP Dhanharka Rai accused the Deuba-led government of not getting tired of talking about financial discipline but using government vehicles to transport its workers. Refuting his accusation, Congress MP Shivraj Joshi replied, "The opposition (UML) is still using 42 vehicles. We are moving."
When Congress MP Bhakta Bahadur Balayar said that the government was committed to maintaining financial discipline, Speaker Poudel said, "Not you, but the government will give the explanation." There was laughter in the parliament after seeing only one minister during the parliament meeting. RPP MP Mirza Dilsad Baig said, "The front seats are empty. One minister is sitting. Where does one minister take the things we have talked about on various problems?" If this happens again, I will not speak during the zero hour.' UML MP Krishnagopal Shrestha had reminded Mirza, 'Even one minister is from the RPP.'
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Agriculture Minister Padmasundar Lawati was standing on the rostrum of the parliament to answer questions related to his ministry. UML MPs did not allow the meeting to continue by raising the issue of impeachment. Minister Lawati was still standing. UML Chief Whip Devi Prasad Ojha was speaking.
Since the minister was standing, Speaker Poudel had given Ojha a little time. But seeing the minister standing for a long time, Ojha had said, 'Our Agriculture Minister is a tyrant.' Even if I speak for an hour, he can stand up.'
UML MP Mitharam Sharma Bajgain said that when his party's MPs spoke, they used to make loud noises like "Okay, yes, yes, no". He had been making such a noise since the no-confidence motion proposed against the Manmohan Singh government during the special session. He was fond of drawing the attention of the MPs to himself.
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Agriculture Minister Lawati had a special meeting with some of his special employees in a special room of the House of Representatives hall. Minister Lawati was seen whispering to the employees during the meeting. ![[Archive] What was seen in the zero hour three decades ago...](https://assets-cdn.ekantipur.com/uploads/source/news/kantipur/2025/miscellaneous/page1kpr-31122025103236-1000x0.jpg)
The employees were making faces overnight. After he held a meeting in the House of Representatives itself, there was a special conversation about how busy the minister was. During the special session, Congress MP Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta had accused the joint government of not being able to work. He said that the joint government could not reach an agreement even on small matters.
UML MP Guru Baral had said that Biratnagar industrial city is about to turn into a dead city. Narayanman Bijukchhe of NEMKIPA had demanded the return of the properties of political warriors that were snatched at various times.
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UML MPs were protesting that the impeachment motion was not discussed in the meeting. Speaker Poudel had taken the initiative saying that the issue of impeachment could not be resolved even after a long time. But UML MPs accused the Speaker of violating the constitution and the law. After MP Ojha announced a boycott of the meeting, all MPs walked out of the meeting. There were only MPs from the Workers' and Peasants' Party and CPN Masal on the opposition bench.
The news, which included interesting incidents seen and heard in Parliament, the impeachment attempt by the UML, questions raised during zero hour, and the government's stance, was published by Kantipur Daily under the title 'Allegations and counter-allegations during zero hour, meeting boycotted due to impeachment controversy' on 21 Kartik 2052.
Presentation: Rishiram Paudyal
![[Archive] What was seen in the zero hour three decades ago...](https://assets-cdn-api.ekantipur.com/thumb.php?src=https://assets-cdn.ekantipur.com/uploads/source/news/kantipur/2025/third-party/pratinidhisava-meeting-2056-pic-by-bikas-rauniyar-1762500618-31122025103946-1000x0.jpg&w=1001&h=0)