KATHMANDU: Opposition lawmakers continued their protest in the House of Representatives on Monday, demanding that Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s remarks that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory be removed from the parliamentary record.
The prime minister made the remarks on May 31, saying Nepal had also encroached on Indian land. Opposition lawmakers have described the statement as “anti-national” and have demanded that Shah clarify his remarks in Parliament.
At the start of Monday’s House meeting, opposition lawmakers stood up in protest and called for the prime minister to appear before Parliament and provide an explanation.
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal then gave Nepali Congress lawmaker Renuka Kauchha time to speak.
Kauchha said the prime minister had failed to provide a clear response to the concerns raised by the opposition and had made no meaningful effort to reassure Parliament.
She argued that questioning the government and holding it accountable did not amount to harassment or disrespect.
“The opposition will stand with the government when it takes the right steps in the national interest,” she said, adding that the opposition could not remain silent when democratic values, constitutional provisions, parliamentary norms and established procedures were being undermined.
Kauchha urged the Speaker to issue a ruling requiring the prime minister to attend the House and respond to the questions raised by lawmakers.
Similarly, CPN-UML lawmaker Nita Ghatani urged ruling-party lawmakers to stand up for Nepal’s territory and sovereignty rather than defend any potentially inappropriate statement.
She said governments, political power and public positions were temporary, while Nepal would remain permanent.
Ghatani also clarified that the opposition was not seeking to obstruct Parliament, but wanted the House to function responsibly while raising issues affecting the public.
Other opposition lawmakers also demanded that the prime minister correct what they described as an irresponsible statement suggesting that Nepal had encroached on Indian territory.
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