KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress Chief Whip Basana Thapa on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Balen Shah of moving ahead with what she described as the arrogance of majority.
Speaking during a meeting of the House of Representatives, Thapa said the government had failed to make Parliament and parliamentary committees effective.
She made the remarks after receiving time from Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal following protests by opposition lawmakers in the House.
“Parliament is not only a platform for the opposition; the government must also remain accountable,” Thapa said. “I am speaking here in favor of democratic values and public mandate. Parliament is not merely a game of numbers — it is a space for ideas and debate.”
Accusing the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah of operating with the arrogance of a parliamentary majority, she said such actions were striking “at the very spirit of democracy.”
“Democracy becomes stronger through dialogue,” she said. “When the majority considers itself all-powerful, arrogance grows, and that never ensures long-term success for any system of governance.”
Thapa clarified that the Nepali Congress did not want to obstruct Parliament merely for the sake of disruption and urged the government to move forward with a common agenda.
“The Nepali Congress is ready to provide constructive support to the government while respecting the public mandate,” she said. “But cooperation cannot be one-sided. The government must demonstrate humility, responsibility, and accountability.”
She also stressed that preserving the dignity of Parliament was not solely the responsibility of the opposition but equally that of the government.
“Run the government on the basis of trust, not merely on the strength of numbers. Listen to the opposition and adopt democratic practices,” Thapa urged.
She added that good governance and prosperity could only be achieved through dialogue rather than arrogance.
“Democracy grows stronger through respect for dissent. This is a matter of common concern for all,” she said.
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