Kathmandu, 17 August
Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have ended their 78-day protest after Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal ruled that Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) must answer lawmakers’ questions and attend the direct question-and-answer session as required by parliamentary rules.
Opposition lawmakers stood in protest immediately after Monday’s House meeting began, continuing their practice from previous sessions.
Speaker Aryal said he had taken note of the opposition’s long-running protest demanding answers from Prime Minister Shah on important issues related to the prime minister and his areas of responsibility.
He then issued a ruling directing the prime minister to attend the House and answer lawmakers’ questions.
“I rule that the Right Honourable Prime Minister attend the meeting of the House of Representatives and answer questions from Honourable Members in accordance with Rules 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 of the regulations,” Aryal said.
Opposition lawmakers remained uncertain for a while even after the ruling.
They had been protesting in the House since May 31, demanding clarification from Prime Minister Shah over remarks he made about the Nepal-India border dispute.
The opposition had also repeatedly drawn the attention of the Speaker and the government to the failure to hold the direct question-and-answer session with the prime minister.
The Speaker, however, did not issue a ruling on Shah’s remarks concerning the border dispute. Instead, he directed the prime minister to be prepared for the direct question-and-answer session.
After Aryal said he had already issued a ruling in the name of the government and prime minister as demanded by the lawmakers, he asked the opposition lawmakers to take their seats.
The lawmakers then ended their protest, bringing the 78-day disruption to an end.
The opposition’s protest began after Prime Minister Shah addressed the House on May 31 and made two statements concerning Nepal’s border dispute with India.
Shah said the government had discussed the issue not only with India and China but also with the United Kingdom, arguing that Britain should have a role because the issue dates back to the time of British India.
He also said he had recently learned, after becoming prime minister, that Nepal had encroached on Indian territory in several places, in addition to India encroaching on Nepali territory.
Opposition parties immediately demanded facts and clarification from Shah over the remarks. However, the prime minister did not agree to provide the requested explanation.
The opposition continued its protest for 14 days in Jestha, all 32 days of Ashadh and all 31 days of Shrawan.
At the start of each House meeting, opposition lawmakers would stand in protest and demand that Shah respond to his remarks. They also criticised the government for failing to hold the direct question-and-answer session with the prime minister.
Under Rule 56 of the House of Representatives Regulations, the direct question-and-answer session with the prime minister is scheduled for one day during the first week of every month, during the first hour of the meeting.
Although the Speaker and the House are responsible for implementing the provision, Aryal issued the ruling after the prime minister had not appeared for the session.
With the Speaker now directing Shah to attend the House and answer lawmakers’ questions, opposition lawmakers have withdrawn their protest.
