Nepali Congress Protests PM Leaving Parliament During Policy Address

Kathmandu. The main opposition Nepali Congress has protested in Parliament over the Prime Minister leaving the meeting while the government's policy and program was being presented by the President.

As soon as the House of Representatives meeting began on Tuesday, Congress MPs stood up and protested, after which Speaker Dolprasad Aryal gave Chief Whip Basana Thapa time to speak.

Chief Whip Thapa stated that the scene seen in Monday's meeting was rarely seen in the history of democratic parliamentary practice and was of a serious nature. She concluded that the Prime Minister leaving the House while his own government's policy and program was being read out was not just a normal incident but was against constitutional संस्कार (sanskar - culture/tradition), parliamentary tradition, and state responsibility. Stating that dignity is greater than position and public trust is greater than dignity, she demanded that the Prime Minister should come to the House and give a clear answer on this matter.

Expressing her views, Thapa said, ‘The Prime Minister leaving the House while the government's policy and program was being presented by the President is not just a normal scene but is against constitutional संस्कार (sanskar - culture/tradition), parliamentary tradition, and state responsibility. The Prime Minister's clear answer is necessary on this matter.’

She also seriously drew the government's attention to respecting constitutional positions and not weakening established parliamentary traditions. Alleging that the Prime Minister's behavior has tarnished parliamentary dignity, the Congress has demanded an official stance on the incident.