KATHMANDU: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam has apologised for remarks she made during a programme marking Gen-Z Martyrs’ Memorial Day.
Gautam apologised during Thursday’s National Assembly meeting after lawmakers objected to her earlier statement suggesting that the National Assembly was creating obstacles to the lawmaking process.
Clarifying her remarks, Gautam said she was only stating the constitutional fact that even a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives is not sufficient to complete the lawmaking process. She said legislation must pass through the House of Representatives and National Assembly before receiving authentication from the President, making it a complex constitutional process.
Gautam said she had presented the facts and had not used any objectionable words suggesting that the National Assembly was refusing to cooperate with the government.
She argued that, as a political figure, her statements had been interpreted differently by journalists and political commentators.
Gautam also said she could not be held responsible for statements she had not made or for interpretations presented by the media in their own way.
She stressed the need for the government and the National Assembly to work together and coordinate effectively in the lawmaking process in the days ahead.
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