Maoist lawmakers rough up Nepal finance minister
Maoist lawmakers scuffled with finance minister Surendra Pandey and snatched his briefcase containing key documents as he was about to present the annual budget in Nepalese Parliament, leading to minor injuries to him and one of his Cabinet colleagues.
Maoists blocked Mr Pandey from presenting the budget in Parliamenton on Friday, forcing speaker Subhash Nemwang to adjourn the house till December 2.
Both Mr Pandey and energy minister Prakash Sharan, who tried to help him, sustained minor injuries during the scuffle.
Immediately after the incident, Mr Pandey told reporters that the Maoists misbehaved with him and some other lawmakers in a bid to stop him from tabling the budget which had already been delayed for four months due to Parliament's failure to elect a new Prime Minister.
"The Maoists committed a crime by disclosing the secret document of the state before it could be presented," the finance minister said, showing the damaged brief case that contained the budget papers and other key documents.
Speaker Mr Nemwang expressed deep sorrow and regret over the incident and assured Mr Pandey that he would take legal action against those Maoist lawmakers, who were responsible for the incident.
Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala said the unruly behaviour of Maoists was exposed to the world and made a mockery of parliamentary democracy.
Condemning the incident, he demanded action against the culprits. Minister for information and communication Shanker Pokharel said the incident was against the norms and values of parliamentary practices.
He said the Maoists did not only attack the ministers and lawmakers but also damaged microphones, tables and chairs of Parliament.
Nepali Congress spokesman Arjun Nar Singh KC said the incident had dealt a blow to efforts being made by political parties to forge consensus and cooperation among themselves to move forward the peace process.
This clearly showed the Maoists' tendency to capture power through force and it put a question mark on the Maoists' commitment to peace and democracy, he said.
Maoists, however, denied the allegations saying the government was responsible for the incident.
Maoist vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that they obstructed the budget presentation as the government was preparing to present a full-fledged budget contrary to an agreement reached with the party.
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