Government's Annual Policy and Program Discussion Begins in Parliament

Kathmandu. A proposal to start discussion on the government's annual policy and program in the House of Representatives has been tabled. In the second meeting held on Wednesday, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, on behalf of Prime Minister Balen Shah, made the proposal. 

After the Speaker gave Finance Minister Wagle time to make the proposal, leaders of the opposition parties stood up and protested. Then the Speaker gave time to the leader of the main opposition party to express his views.

After getting time from the Speaker, the leader of the main opposition party, Bhishma Raj Angdembe, said that the Prime Minister should be present to respond to the policy and program, and that they had tabled the proposal out of respect for the Prime Minister. He also demanded that the Speaker rule for the Prime Minister's presence.

In response, the Speaker said that his attention had been drawn and informed that 35 amendment proposals had been submitted to the policy and program. The Speaker urged the opposition MPs to take their seats and proceed with the assembly, stating that the decision on whether the Prime Minister should be present could be made after discussion with the Prime Minister.

However, the opposition MPs did not heed Speaker Aryal's request. They remained standing. In the meantime, RSP MP Kabindra Burla Koti stood up and asked for time to speak. But the Speaker did not give him time.

The leader of the main opposition party, Angdembe, was given one minute to present his point. But Angdembe questioned the Speaker's decision to allocate time to the main opposition party, asking if it was wrong to say that the Prime Minister should respond to the policy and program.

"We have cooperated with the Speaker to run the session," he said, "We want the continuity of this session, for a way out. A ruling is needed for discussion. We don't shout much, but we will keep our points by standing."