KATHMANDU: Opposition parties have decided to continue their protests in the House of Representatives, demanding a clarification from Prime Minister Balen Shah over his remarks on the Nepal-India border dispute.
The opposition plans to raise the issue immediately after Thursday’s House meeting begins before allowing the proceedings to continue.
The controversy stems from Prime Minister Shah’s response during a question-and-answer session in the House on May 31, when he said that, besides India encroaching on Nepal’s territory, Nepal had also encroached on Indian land in several places.
Following the statement, opposition parties demanded that the Prime Minister provide factual evidence to support the claim or apologize and have the remarks removed from the parliamentary record.
The opposition has continued its protest over the issue for nearly two months.
On Wednesday, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal met Prime Minister Shah at Singha Durbar and suggested that he address the House on the issue. According to the Speaker, the Prime Minister responded that he would consider the suggestion.
Besides the opposition protest, Thursday’s House agenda includes special and zero-hour proceedings, during which lawmakers will raise matters of public importance, as well as a proposal to send a bill to a parliamentary committee for further deliberation.
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