KATHMANDU, AUGUST 20Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting with the top leaders of the nationally-recognized parties to discuss various issues including the deadlock in the Federal Parliament. PM Dahal consults with private sector to improve economy PM Dahal signs performance agreement with 21 ministers The meeting was called for 12.30pm today at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar and it discussed on contemporary political issues as well as the latest problems seen in the country, said Govinda Acharya, the Prime Minister's press advisor.The main opposition party, the CPN (UML), has been obstructing the sessions of both houses of the Federal Parliament – the House of Representatives and the National Assembly- since July 26.

As a result of the parliamentary obstruction, important bills have not moved ahead in parliament. Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, UML chairperson KP Sharma Oli, Rastriya Swatantra Party president Rabi Lamichhane, Rastriya Prajatantra Party chairperson Rajendra Lingden, Janata Samajbadi Party chairperson Upendra Yadav and Janamat Party chairperson CK Raut have been invited to attend the meeting.The Prime Minister has been taking initiatives to open the parliamentary obstruction.Meanwhile, the UML has been obstructing the House, calling for a high-level investigation commission to probe the gold smuggling scam.The Department of Revenue Investigation had on July 19 confiscated gold which had been brought through Tribhuvan International Airport by evading the airport customs and security from local Sinamangal.The main opposition party has been demanding for formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate into this scam.The government and the parties in the ruling alliance have rebuffed this demand and have insisted that the matter would be investigated into by government bodies responsible for the investigations. .

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