KATHMANDU: Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal adjourned Wednesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives for 15 minutes after opposition parties, led by the Nepali Congress, united in protest 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 programme for the upcoming fiscal year.
Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe suggested suspending the House proceedings for 15 to 20 minutes to allow consultations among parliamentary party leaders, chief whips, and whips.
However, tensions escalated after Speaker Aryal initially attempted to continue the session despite opposition objections.
As opposition lawmakers continued chanting slogans and protesting while standing inside the chamber, the Speaker eventually halted proceedings and announced consultations with parliamentary leaders and chief whips.
The opposition said the Prime Minister’s continued absence from Parliament during discussions on the government’s policy and programme was unacceptable and against parliamentary norms.
The Shram Sanskriti Party also announced a boycott of the parliamentary session.
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