At a time when opposition parties, including the main opposition Nepali Congress, have been demanding that the prime minister be accountable to Parliament, Prime Minister Balen Shah attended the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday.
PM Shah entered the House chamber alongside Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane around 1:45 p.m., when Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chief Whip Khusbu Oli was speaking.
PM Shah attended the meeting for about 20 minutes before leaving. During his brief appearance, he listened to speeches by a few lawmakers.
PM Shah had not attended House of Representatives meetings since May 31. After he said that "Nepal has also encroached upon India’s land" during a question-and-answer session in the House that day, opposition parties have been demanding daily that he either provide evidence to support his statement or have the remark removed from the parliamentary record.
Meanwhile, the RSP held its first general convention in Chitwan. During the inaugural session of the general convention, PM Shah attempted to clarify the statement he made in Parliament, but opposition parties have insisted that any clarification regarding remarks made in Parliament must be delivered in Parliament itself.
Given this context, PM Shah's brief 20-minute attendance and subsequent exit drew attention. As he exited Parliament, he was seen briefly speaking with RSP lawmakers Indira Rana Magar and Nisha Dangi.
