KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker Geeta Gurung has accused Prime Minister Balendra Shah of failing to remain accountable to the federal parliament and demanded that the Speaker direct him to appear in the House and respond to lawmakers’ questions.
Speaking during Wednesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Gurung alleged that Prime Minister Shah has been continuously absent from parliamentary sessions and has avoided addressing issues raised by lawmakers.
She said the prime minister should attend parliament and deliver a statement to restore public confidence.
Gurung claimed that recent incidents in the country have increased public frustration and accused the government of attempting to divert attention instead of addressing core problems.
She criticised the government’s response to incidents including the flooding of a squatter settlement in Kirtipur and a self-immolation incident, saying authorities had failed to show seriousness.
The lawmaker alleged that nine people from squatter communities have lost their lives following government demolition drives. She described the deaths, involving citizens ranging from an 18-month-old child to elderly individuals, as a form of “institutional killing” by the state mechanism.
She also questioned why cases of abetment to suicide should not be filed against the government based on such incidents.
Referring to the self-immolation attempt by individuals including Ganesh Nepali of Mugu, Gurung said such extreme actions reflected growing public frustration and represented a failure of the government.
Gurung further accused the government of allowing inflation to rise, increasing public dissatisfaction, and pushing the country towards crisis through its working style. She alleged that youths and journalists were targeted when they raised questions about government shortcomings.
She criticised the youth-led government for showing arrogance instead of compassion and said it must respond to concerns raised by citizens, civil society, and young people.
Gurung also remarked that the government and parliament were not a “birthday party”, questioning the prime minister’s commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, and parliamentary responsibility.
Warning that the government’s actions had disappointed the younger generation, she said the Nepali Congress would continue to raise concerns whenever democratic processes, legal procedures, and constitutional values are undermined.
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