NC accuses Speaker of not allocating time to speak in parliament

Kathmandu–The main opposition party in parliament, Nepali Congress, has objected to the parliament Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara's not allocating time to the leader of the main opposition Sher Bahadur Deuba to express his view in the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday.

The NC stated that Deuba had sought time from the Speaker to put his view but the Speaker denied him time. A press release issued by the Nepali Congress parliamentary party states that a situation arose in which the party had to surround the 'well' in the parliament on Tuesday for the 'protection of the freedom of thought and expression'.

It said it was irresponsible on the part of the Speaker to not give time to the leader of the main opposition party to air his views in the House.

The House was not informed about the Prime Minister's Europe visit and it came to know about the visit only after five days through a letter from the Office of the President, the press release issued by Nepali Congress chief whip Bal Krishna Khand states.

Similarly, the NC has said what happened on Tuesday in the meeting of the House of Representatives indicates that the parliamentary principle, 'Government of the majority and Parliament of the opposition', was not implemented.

NC spokesman Bishwa Prakash Sharma, through a press note, alleged that the situation of conflict occurred in the parliament as the Speaker tried to bypass the opposition's voice by directly inviting the Prime Minister to speak, without continuing the parliament proceedings.

It would be democratic, practical and warm hearted in the parliament had the Prime Minister addressed the issues after the leader of the main opposition had put his views regarding topics of concern of the general public, before allowing the Prime Minister to speak, the press note states.