Harka Sampang says opposition can accept PM’s written response read by another minister

KATHMANDU: Shram Sankriti Party Chair Harka Sampang has said the opposition would accept a written response from Prime Minister Balen Shah if it is formally signed and submitted to the House of Representatives, even if it is read out by another minister.

Opposition parties have been obstructing parliamentary proceedings since May 31, when the Prime Minister stated in the House that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory.

The House meeting scheduled for 11 am on Wednesday was postponed until 2 pm as political parties continued discussions to resolve the dispute.

Speaking during the House session, Sampang said, “We do not accept a response solely from the Foreign Minister. However, if the Prime Minister sends a signed written response and the minister reads it out, we can accept that.”

He also argued that it would not be appropriate for one person’s mistake to be corrected by another, questioning whether the failure lay with the Constitution, the law, Parliament, public conduct, or political thinking.

“Is the Constitution failing, are our laws failing, are we failing, or is Parliament failing? Is conduct failing, or is thinking failing when no one follows due process?” he remarked.

During his speech, Sampang also took a sarcastic swipe at the Prime Minister, delivering parts of his criticism in a poetic style.