KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Prime Minister to respond to policy and programme debate tomorrow, House meeting adjourned
Prime Minister Balendra Shah is scheduled to respond to discussions on the government’s policy and programme in the House of Representatives tomorrow. The House meeting on Wednesday was adjourned after Speaker informed lawmakers that the Prime Minister would personally attend Thursday’s session and answer questions related to the policy and programme. Although efforts were made to resume the meeting for a third time, proceedings could not move forward as opposition parties continued their obstruction immediately after the session began.
Speaker to hold talks with PM Balen Shah amid Parliament dispute
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has said he will hold discussions with Prime Minister Balen Shah following mounting criticism over the Prime Minister’s continued absence from Parliament. Speaking during the second sitting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the Speaker made the remarks after opposition leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe raised concerns about the Prime Minister’s health condition and absence from the chamber. Angdembe said opposition parties, including the Nepali Congress, had allowed the government’s policy and program to be tabled in Parliament out of respect for the Speaker’s role, but insisted that Shah must now personally attend the discussion.
House meeting adjourned again amid opposition protests over PM’s absence
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal on Wednesday adjourned the meeting of the House of Representatives for another 15 minutes after opposition parties, led by the Nepali Congress, intensified protests over Prime Minister Balen Shah’s absence. Opposition lawmakers began protesting after the Prime Minister failed to attend Parliament even to table the proposal related to the government’s policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year. The House session, which had already remained adjourned for more than an hour earlier, could not proceed with discussions on the government’s policy and program as opposition lawmakers stood up in protest inside the chamber.
PM Balen Shah watches Parliament live from Singha Durbar as House erupts in protests
Prime Minister Balen Shah remained inside Singha Durbar on Wednesday while watching live proceedings of the House of Representatives as opposition parties obstructed Parliament over his absence from the chamber. The House witnessed repeated disruptions after opposition lawmakers accused the Prime Minister of failing to attend discussions on the government’s policy and programme for the upcoming fiscal year. According to sources, Shah stayed inside Singha Durbar throughout the parliamentary session and followed the proceedings via live broadcast as tensions escalated inside the federal legislature.
Speaker orders removal of Ram Bahadur Thapa’s ‘unparliamentary remarks’ from House records
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has directed the Federal Parliament Secretariat to remove remarks made by Ram Bahadur Thapa from the official parliamentary record, describing them as unparliamentary. The directive was issued during Wednesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives after Manish Khanal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party demanded that comments made by Thapa on Tuesday be removed from the records. Khanal argued that the remarks were against parliamentary norms and should not remain part of the official proceedings.
Harka Sampang says Parliament being reduced to a mere formality
Harka Sampang, chairperson of the Shram Sanskriti Party, has said his party protested after Parliament was allegedly being reduced to a mere formality. Speaking to journalists after boycotting Wednesday’s House of Representatives meeting, Sampang accused the government of running Parliament arbitrarily and attempting to limit it to ceremonial proceedings. “We have questions raised by the people, and the Prime Minister of the country must answer them,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Balen Shah’s absence from the House during discussions on the government’s policy and programme.
House meeting remains stalled an hour after adjournment over PM Balen Shah’s absence
The meeting of the House of Representatives has yet to resume even an hour after it was adjourned for 15 minutes amid opposition protests over Prime Minister Balen Shah’s absence from Parliament. The session had been suspended after opposition parties obstructed proceedings, demanding that the Prime Minister personally appear in the House to respond to questions raised on the government’s policy and programme. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal had adjourned the meeting following requests from opposition leaders, including Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe.
Govt reduces federal ministries from 25 to 18
The government has reduced the number of federal ministries from 25 to 18 through a new division of responsibilities regulation approved by the Cabinet. A Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday endorsed the Work Allocation Regulations, paving the way for the restructuring of ministries under the federal government. Previously, the federal structure had allowed for 22 ministers and three state ministers, including the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Harka Sampang walks out of Parliament over PM Balen Shah’s absence
Harka Sampang walked out of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, protesting the absence of Prime Minister Balen Shah during discussions on the government’s policy and programme. Demanding that the Prime Minister personally appear in Parliament to answer questions raised by lawmakers, Sampang said he would not remain in the chamber until Shah attended the session. He later exited the meeting hall along with lawmakers supporting his position.
Opposition parties furious as PM Balen Shah skips Parliament response on policy and program
Prime Minister Balen Shah has come under intense criticism from opposition parties and parliamentary experts after deciding not to personally respond to questions raised in the House of Representatives on the government’s policy and program. The Prime Minister’s Secretariat confirmed that the responsibility of replying to lawmakers has been delegated to Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle. “There is an agenda for Finance Minister Wagle to respond to the questions raised on the policy and program in Parliament,” Prime Minister’s press adviser Deepa Dahal said.
Opposition lawmakers demand PM Balen Shah’s resignation in Parliament
Opposition lawmakers have demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Balen Shah after he failed to appear in Parliament to respond to questions raised on the government’s policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year. The House of Representatives had scheduled discussions on the policy and program from Wednesday. However, controversy erupted after it was announced that Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle would respond on behalf of the Prime Minister. Opposition parties immediately obstructed parliamentary proceedings, arguing that parliamentary tradition and democratic accountability require the Prime Minister himself to answer lawmakers’ questions.
Squatter community stages torch rally in Pokhara demanding Prime Minister’s resignation
Members of the squatter community staged a torch rally in Pokhara on Wednesday evening, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Participants in the demonstration chanted slogans against the government and accused it of ignoring the problems faced by landless squatters. The protesters called on the government to immediately address their concerns. Gathering from different parts of Pokhara, the demonstrators marched through the streets carrying torches and stated that Prime Minister Shah should resign from his position.
NC lawmaker tells Speaker to summon PM Balen Shah to Parliament
Nishkal Rai of the Nepali Congress has urged Speaker DP Aryal to issue a ruling directing Prime Minister Balen Shah to appear in Parliament. Speaking during Tuesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Rai said the Prime Minister’s continued absence from the House while discussions were underway on the government’s own policy and programme had undermined the dignity of Parliament. “I do not see the Right Honourable Prime Minister in Parliament today,” Rai said. “There is an agenda for responding to questions raised on the policy and programme introduced by the government itself, yet the Prime Minister is absent.”
Cabinet meeting takes four major decisions
The Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday has taken four important decisions. According to Minister for Communication and Information Technology Dr. Bikram Timsina, who briefed reporters on the decisions, the meeting approved the Government of Nepal Work Division Regulations and endorsed amendments to the Electronic Governance Operation Order. The Cabinet also decided to nominate two members of the House of Representatives—MPs Sushil Khadka (Baglung) and Yogesh Gauchan Thakali (Mustang)—to the Government Investment Management Committee.
NIMB CEO Jyoti Prakash Pandey arrested in Smart Telecom case
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Jyoti Prakash Pandey, has been arrested in connection with the Smart Telecom case. A team from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested Pandey this morning as part of an ongoing investigation. According to the CIB, Pandey has been accused of involvement in the illegal sale of assets belonging to Smart Telecom, a company under government ownership, to Ncell.
RSP to hold first general convention in Chitwan in June
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided to hold its first general convention in Chitwan from June 21 to 23. The decision was made during the party’s ongoing central committee meeting at its central office in Banasthali. Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane had initially proposed holding the convention on June 20, 21 and 22, but the committee agreed on June 21, 22 and 23 instead. Earlier, the RSP had made a theoretical decision to organise its general convention within six months of the completion of the elections. Accordingly, the convention was expected to be held by September.
Earthquake tremor felt in Kathmandu Valley
An earthquake tremor was felt in the Kathmandu Valley on Wednesday evening. According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the earthquake struck at 7:24 pm with its epicentre around the Matatirtha area of Kathmandu. The centre stated that the earthquake measured 2.9 magnitude.
Supreme Court issues show-cause order in writ against Asset Investigation Commission
The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause order in response to a writ petition filed against the Asset Investigation Commission. A single bench of Justice Balkrishna Dhakal issued the order on Tuesday, directing both parties to appear for discussion on May 12. Advocate Dr Prem Raj Silwal had filed the writ petition at the Supreme Court against the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, claiming that the Asset Investigation Commission is unconstitutional and lacks jurisdiction.
Two-day weekend policy adds pressure on nursing services in government hospitals
The government’s implementation of a two-day weekend for civil servants has added further challenges to nursing service management in government hospitals operating round the clock. Hospital administrators say nurses are becoming increasingly demotivated due to inadequate staffing, low allowances and discriminatory treatment in the workplace. A nursing chief at a government hospital said managing duty rosters has become extremely difficult as indoor, emergency and ICU services must continue uninterrupted even during holidays.
Dr. Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel appointed Member-Secretary of National Trust for Nature Conservation
Dr. Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel has been appointed as the Member-Secretary of the National Trust for Nature Conservation. Minister for Forests and Environment and Chairperson of the Trust, Gita Chaudhary, appointed Dr. Pokharel effective from May 12 until further notice. Dr. Pokharel is currently serving as a senior director at the Trust and is widely recognized as a wildlife biologist, conservation planner, and tiger expert. He brings more than 27 years of professional experience in the field of nature conservation.
Protest held at Maitighar demanding halt to Pathibhara cable car project
A protest was staged at Maitighar Mandala on Monday demanding an immediate halt to the cable car project in the Mukkumlung/Pathibhara Temple area. Various groups and campaigners participated in the demonstration, urging the government to stop the project in order to protect religious, cultural, and local community rights. Protesters described the Mukkumlung region as a historically and spiritually significant site and said interference in the area in the name of development was unacceptable.
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