KATHMANDU: Shram Sanskriti Party Chair Harka Sampang has boycotted a meeting of the House of Representatives, objecting to the absence of Prime Minister Balen Shah in the session to answer questions raised by lawmakers.
At the beginning of the session, Sampang urged the Speaker to issue a ruling to ensure the Prime Minister’s presence in the House. He also demanded that the Prime Minister be held accountable in Parliament in line with Rule 15(2) of the House Regulations, and requested that he be expelled from the House under Rule 31(1) if his demand could not be fulfilled.
Following his remarks, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal requested Sampang to remain seated, stating that the matter of the Prime Minister’s presence had been noted.
The Speaker further clarified that there is no practice of directing the Chair to run the House in a particular manner, and reminded that it is the Speaker’s responsibility to take necessary decisions in accordance with the Constitution, laws and parliamentary rules.
After the Speaker did not issue a ruling regarding the Prime Minister’s attendance, Sampang walked out of the session in protest. However, other lawmakers from the Shram Sanskriti Party did not join the boycott.
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