Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has said that Prime Minister Balen Shah will appear in the House of Representatives to answer lawmakers' questions after the budget speech.
He shared this information during Tuesday's meeting of the House of Representatives.
Amid continuous protests by opposition lawmakers demanding the prime minister's presence in Parliament, Speaker Aryal said, "My attention has been drawn to the issue raised by the honorable members. For the past few days, we have been focusing on the same issue and holding dialogues on it."
He noted that the opposition lawmakers' demands – that the prime minister must appear in the House on behalf of the government, answer questions raised in the sovereign Parliament, present his views, and address the public – are entirely justified, constitutional, and in line with parliamentary rules and laws.
“That is also the demand of the people,” he said. “We have been repeatedly holding dialogues on this with opposition party leaders, chief whips, and party leaders. I have also been in dialogue with the ruling party’s chief whip. Not only that, I have also been engaging in dialogue with the government itself and the honorable prime minister.”
"I have already informed you that the honorable prime minister is preparing to attend. As I mentioned earlier, the government and the prime minister are well aware of what is happening in the House. Today as well, my attention has been drawn to the issues you have raised. Therefore, let us move forward with today's scheduled agenda."
He said that since the budget is being presented in a few days, PM Shah would appear in the House around that time to answer the questions and concerns raised by the lawmakers.
"The budget is coming in a few days. I hope and believe, and have also been informed by the ruling party's chief whip, that the prime minister is preparing to answer your concerns and questions," Speaker Aryal said. "The prime minister will soon appear in the House and give answers."
After Speaker Aryal concluded his remarks, he permitted Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Ganesh Paudel to present a proposal to consider the Tourism Bill, 2026.
Immediately after, lawmakers from opposition parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepali Communist Party, Shram Sanskriti Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, stood up from their seats in protest.
Following the opposition's protest, Speaker Aryal briefly stopped Tourism Minister Paudel, who had already reached the rostrum, from presenting the bill.
Addressing the lawmakers, the speaker then said, "I gave everyone time to speak, and the honorable lawmakers put forward their views. I also presented my views. Your concerns have drawn my attention and the government's attention. I request the honorable lawmakers to please take their seats."
As the opposition lawmakers continued their protest despite his request, he sent Tourism Minister Paudel back to his seat from the rostrum. The speaker reiterated, "Information has been received that the prime minister is preparing to appear in Parliament and give answers."
As the opposition lawmakers continued their protests despite the assurance, the speaker permitted the tourism minister to present the bill.
Amid the protests from opposition lawmakers, Tourism Minister Paudel presented the proposal to consider the Tourism Bill, 2026.
