Speaker directs PM Shah to respond to questions raised by lawmakers

KATHMANDU: Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has directed Prime Minister Balendra Shah to appear before the House of Representatives and respond to questions raised by lawmakers.

At the start of Monday’s meeting of the House, Speaker Aryal issued a ruling requiring Prime Minister Shah to be present in Parliament and answer lawmakers’ questions.

“My attention has been drawn to the protest being carried out demanding a question-and-answer session on important matters related to the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister’s jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 56 of the House of Representatives Rules. In this context, I direct the Prime Minister to present himself in the House of Representatives meeting and answer the questions raised by members as per Rules 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 of the House of Representatives Rules,” he added.

The House of Representatives Rules require the prime minister to attend Parliament during the first week of every month and respond to questions from lawmakers.

Prime Minister Shah last appeared in the House meeting on July 14. He, however, attended the meeting for only around 20 minutes. That was his first appearance in the House following his contentious remarks on the Nepal-India border issue on May 31.

“After becoming prime minister, I learned that Nepal, too, has encroached on Indian land, not just India,” Shah said, responding to a question from lawmakers on Nepal-India border disputes.

Opposition lawmakers have been demanding that the Prime Minister apologize for his remarks and that they be expunged from the parliament records.