Following the arson attack on the Parliament building in New Baneshwar during the Gen Z movement, House of Representatives meetings are now being held in the multipurpose hall of the under-construction Federal Parliament building in Singha Durbar.
The distance between the under-construction Parliament building and the Prime Minister’s Office inside Singha Durbar is about 200 meters.
Prime Minister Balen Shah was scheduled to attend the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday to participate in discussions on the government’s policies and program and respond to questions. However, despite being only 200 meters away, he did not attend the session. He had, however, arrived at Singha Durbar early in the morning and also held a Cabinet meeting.
After the Cabinet meeting, most ministers attended the parliamentary session, but the prime minister did not, leading to the House being adjourned for 15 minutes.
Following his absence, opposition parties searched for the prime minister in the hall and protested, accusing him of failing to listen to the voices of the people’s representatives.
Gyanendra Shahi, parliamentary party leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, reminded the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party that it had protested against the prime minister’s absence in the previous Parliament. He also said that PM Shah’s absence raised questions about the existence of RSP lawmakers themselves.
“The prime minister is sitting in Singha Durbar wearing black sunglasses,” Shahi said in Parliament. “We are seeking answers in Parliament. He should either come or admit that he is not a prime minister elected by Parliament.”
He emphasized that the policies and programs document the state’s direction, priorities, and commitments made to the people, and said that the prime minister must personally respond to questions raised about them.
“If this is a people’s government, accountability is sought in Parliament, not at Ratna Park,” he said.
He also said that no agenda could be more important than the government’s policies and programs.
“Where is he busy instead of attending such an important matter as the policies and programs?” Shahi questioned. “The policies and programs are something the head of government should listen to, respond to, and present too. We have not invited the prime minister to discuss a bill.”
CPN-UML Chief Whip Ain Bahadur Mahar said that the prime minister had repeatedly undermined Parliament.
He also said that there has been no answer regarding why the prime minister left the Parliament session while the president was presenting the government’s policies and programs.
“Article 76(10) of the Constitution states that the prime minister and ministers are accountable to the Federal Parliament. When will he be accountable?” Shahi asked. “Today, the public wants answers from the prime minister. The prime minister is trying to avoid and escape responsibilities.”
Nepali Communist Party Chief Whip Yuvaraj Dulal also said that the constitutional requirement for the prime minister to be accountable to Parliament was being mocked.
“The people want to hear the prime minister’s voice,” Dulal said.
The main opposition Nepali Congress demanded that the speaker issue a ruling directing the prime minister to attend the House meeting.
"I do not see the prime minister in the House. Today’s agenda includes responding to questions raised about the policies and programs he himself formulated, yet he is nowhere to be seen in Parliament," NC Whip Nishkal Rai said in the House. "It is also the speaker's role to uphold the dignity and honor of this House. You are our leader too. If you cannot uphold the honor of the assembly, no one else can. Therefore, through the speaker, I urge an immediate ruling to summon the prime minister to the House."
Meanwhile, the Rastriya Swatantra Party argued that the House of Representatives Regulations do not make it mandatory for the prime minister to present policies and programs for discussion or respond to questions regarding them.
