KATHMANDU: Opposition parties continued their protest in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, disrupting proceedings immediately after the meeting commenced and reiterating their demand that Prime Minister Balen Shah personally address Parliament over his controversial remarks on border issues.
Lawmakers from opposition parties stood in protest as soon as the session began, maintaining their obstruction of House business.
The opposition has been demanding that Shah appear before Parliament, clarify his statement that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory, and issue an apology. They have warned that the parliamentary deadlock will continue until the Prime Minister responds directly in the House.
The House meeting had also been disrupted on Monday due to opposition protests, forcing the session to be adjourned until Tuesday.
Parties including the Nepali Congress, Nepali Communist Party, Shram Sanskriti Party and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) renewed their demand that Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal issue a ruling directing the Prime Minister to appear in Parliament and answer questions regarding his remarks.
The dispute stems from comments made by the Prime Minister in Parliament, which opposition parties have described as harmful to national interests and sovereignty. They have also demanded that the statement be removed from the parliamentary record.
Despite an all-party meeting convened by Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane on Monday, no consensus was reached on ending the impasse, with opposition leaders insisting that only the Prime Minister—not ministers or party leaders—can clarify the controversial statement.
The continued protest has once again cast uncertainty over the House’s ability to proceed with its scheduled business.
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