Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has issued instructions for removal of unbecoming words used by Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli while answering the questions raised by opposition lawmakers about the government's policies and programs at the House of Representatives (HoR) on Tuesday.
Speaker Mahara instructed the parliament secretariat to remove the words not fitting parliamentary decorum used by PM Oli and lawmakers from the record informed the HoR at the start of Friday's meeting.
"I instruct the secretariat to remove the words out of keeping with parliamentary decorum used by Rt Honorable PM during clarification about the government's policies and programs, and honorable lawmakers during their queries from the record," Speaker Mahara stated to the thunderous applause of opposition lawmakers on Friday.
"I will present answers to the questions ignoring rage, frustrations and feeble expressions," Oli had started to answer questions raised by the lawmakers on Tuesday.
Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Min Bahadur Bishokarma had objected to the use of words--rage, frustrations and feeble--by Oli immediately after the latter finished the sentence. Other NC lawmakers joined in saying the words does not fit parliamentary decorum.
Bishwokarma had earlier asked PM Oli how much he will get in corruption now that he has started to award contracts of over Rs 25 billion.
Speaker Mahara had said his attention has been drawn immediately after Bishwokarma's objection but NC lawmakers stood from their chair and protested saying the language does not fit parliamentary decorum.
"I don't want to indulge in a debate for long, honorable members. There should be dignity in questions," Oli had said from the rostrum.
NC lawmaker Minendra Rijal had demanded ruling from Speaker Mahara even as he urged the lawmakers to sit down pointing his attention has already been drawn.
Oli had then demanded that the recording of the questions be replayed to listen to the kind of questions raised.
Rijal had responded that the lawmakers are ready to listen to the recording and stated that the PM's style of answering is not right.
"One can ask questions but can't use vulgar words," Oli had fumed apparently hinting toward the question of Bishwokarma.
"Will the speaker run the parliament or you?" Rijal had objected.
"We have rights to question. But questions should be asked in a dignified manner. One cannot use vulgar words. But it is the speaker who should point if vulgar words have been used," Rijal had argued.
Speaker Mahara had then asked PM Oli to continue his answer pointing his attention has already been drawn.
Rijal had raised the issue of parliamentary regulations and Oli hit back saying he has read it and urged the lawmakers should also comply with it.
