Parliament Session Sees Repeated Clashes Between Speaker and Shram Sanskriti Party MPs

Kathmandu. There were repeated verbal exchanges between Speaker Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal and the MPs of the Shram Sanskriti Party during Wednesday's House of Representatives meeting.

 MPs from the Shram Sanskriti Party have been protesting in the House of Representatives meeting with placards since May 4. The Speaker, who had been advising them that such activities were against parliamentary decorum, warned them to correct their behavior on Wednesday morning as soon as the session began, citing Rule 30 of the House of Representatives Regulations 2079, after the MPs from that party displayed placards and protested.

Even after that, the activities of the Shram Sanskriti Party MPs did not change. As they continued to protest, Speaker Aryal stated towards the end of the session that they were behaving indecently despite his rulings from the Speaker's chair three times.

“I have made rulings 3 times. Honorable members, please sit. You can ask questions, and I will give you time,” said Speaker Aryal. “You are behaving differently every day, contrary to the constitution, laws, and regulations. You are engaging in indecent behavior that violates the decorum of the regulations. This matter has drawn my serious attention.”

सभामुख अर्यालले श्रम संस्कृति पार्टीका सांसदलाई दिए चेतावनी

Even after that, the MPs of the Shram Sanskriti Party did not stop. Party Chairman Harkaraj Rai, General Secretary Aryan Rai, and MP Dhurbaraj Rai stood and protested. Although the Speaker did not provide a microphone or time to speak, Chairman Rai stated that they should be allowed to ask questions in the parliament and that ministers should answer their questions. “We should be allowed to ask questions. Ministers should answer our questions. It is not the MPs from the ruling party who should answer,” said MP Rai.

He stated that they would continue to protest until their questions were answered. “If the ministers do not answer the questions we raise, how can this work? We will continue to protest. Do whatever you want to do. We will not relent until our questions are answered,” said Rai.

Following this, Speaker Aryal drew attention to the regulations, stating that despite his repeated requests in a civil manner to ask for time and promising to provide time based on the subject matter, they had not complied. Speaker Aryal drew attention to Rule 20, Clause (Jha), and Rule 21, Clause (A) of the House of Representatives Regulations 2079.

“Honorable members, I draw the attention of the members to Rule 20, Clause (Jha) of the Regulations,” said Speaker Aryal. “I also draw the attention of the honorable members to Rule 21, Clause (A) of the Regulations.”

Rule 20, to which Speaker Aryal drew attention, mentions “Rules to be observed in the meeting.” Clause (Jha) of that rule states, “No member shall interrupt while another member is speaking, or engage in any act that violates the decorum of the meeting or causes disorder.”

Rule 21 mentions “Rules to be observed by a member participating in a discussion.” Clause (A) of that rule states, “A member wishing to draw the Speaker's attention shall stand up and speak only after the Speaker calls their name or signals them to do so.”

However, after Wednesday's session, Shram Sanskriti Party Chairman Harkaraj Rai told reporters at the Parliament building premises that his party's protest in parliament would continue until Prime Minister Balen Shah becomes responsible and accountable to the parliament. He stated that the government's Home Minister is also the Prime Minister himself and that their demand for answers to questions related to the ministry remains.

“We will continue to protest, we will protest for all five years. If we are suspended for criticizing the government or for demanding accountability to parliament, we are ready for that too,” Rai told reporters.

Ekram Giri, spokesperson and joint secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, stated that the Speaker and the MPs of the Shram Sanskriti Party could not agree on the issue of being allowed to ask for clarification while a minister was providing an answer on matters not practiced in parliament.

“Their demand is to be allowed to ask questions while the minister is answering,” spokesperson Giri told Ratopati. “There is no practice of asking for clarification during urgent, special, and zero hours when answers are being given.”

Spokesperson Giri stated that the regulations allow for seeking clarification when a minister expresses their views in the form of a public statement.

When asked if the Speaker's warning to the Shram Sanskriti Party MPs on Wednesday was a preparation for suspension, spokesperson Giri said, “The Speaker drew attention to the conduct of the session. It cannot be said that this is preparation based on that. It is not appropriate to make a prediction based on this at present.”

सभामुखले नियमावलीमा टेकेर सचेत गराएपछि हर्क राईले नियमावलीमै टेकेर उठाए प्रश्न, नियमावलीले के भन्छ ?

Rule 30 of the House of Representatives Regulations 2079 mentions that the Speaker can issue a warning. Under the heading of warning in that rule, it is written, “The Speaker may warn a member who behaves indecently in the meeting to control their behavior, and upon receiving the warning, such member shall immediately control their behavior.”

Rule 31, Sub-rule 1, contains provisions regarding expulsion from the meeting hall. It states, “A member who does not comply with the order under Rule 30 may be ordered by the Speaker to leave the meeting hall. Upon receiving the order, such member shall immediately leave the meeting hall and shall not be allowed to attend the remaining part of the meeting for that day.”

Rule 32 then deals with the suspension of members.

This is the provision in the regulations: