Nepali Congress Accuses PM Balen Shah of Weakening Parliament

Kathmandu. Nepali Congress has accused Prime Minister Balen Shah of trying to weaken the parliament with the support of a two-thirds majority. Speaking in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Nepali Congress Chief Whip Nishkal Rai said that the Prime Minister himself is weakening democratic values and parliamentary practice by ignoring the parliament.

He expressed objection, stating that the Prime Minister is not accountable and responsible to the parliament. Chief Whip Rai, quoting the statement of ruling party MP Manish Jha, has given the parliament the status of Gurukul and university.

However, his argument is that the Prime Minister himself has started to 'bank' such a university-like house. He said it is unfortunate that the Prime Minister was absent from the discussion on an important issue like the policy and program, even though he was present in his office a few hundred meters away from the parliament building. Stating that the policy and program is the country's priority and action plan for the upcoming year, he claimed that sufficient discussion could not be held on it due to the Prime Minister.

Rai mentioned that the tendency to run away from questions is not good for democracy and emphasized the need to make the Prime Minister accountable to the parliament. He said, 'The house is not a tea shop, one cannot come and go as they please. The house should be a Gurukul and university. But today the situation has become such that the Prime Minister himself has started to bank this Gurukul and university.'

Rai said that the country's chief executive ignoring a dignified institution like the parliament is indifference to parliamentary practice. Congress has demanded that the Prime Minister himself be present and answer the serious questions of the MPs.

Chief Whip Rai said that although Article 76 (10) of the constitution seeks to make the Prime Minister accountable to the parliament, the government has shown the arrogance of a two-thirds majority. He also drew the attention of the Speaker to make a ruling to ensure the Prime Minister's presence in the parliament. Rai further said, 'We have serious questions and we want to ask those questions to the Prime Minister. But today, with the support of a number close to two-thirds, an attempt is being made to weaken the parliament itself, which is not a good sign for democracy.'