Harkaraj Rai Criticizes Government for Lack of Accountability to Parliament

Kathmandu. Chairman of the Labor Culture Party, Harkaraj Rai (Sampang), has objected, stating that the government and the Prime Minister are not accountable to the parliament.

Issuing a press release today, Rai, who is also a Member of Parliament, accused the current government of violating parliamentary dignity and disregarding the parliament formed by the mandate of the people.

The statement reads, 'The absence of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, and other ministers in the parliament and their failure to answer questions raised confirms that the parliament is not functioning according to the rules. This is in violation of Rule 15(2) of the House of Representatives Operating Regulations.'

MP Rai expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the two ministers who attended parliament after much effort gave very superficial answers, and when he and other MPs from the Labor Culture Party tried to ask further questions, the Speaker stopped them. 'The parliament is a place to ask questions of the people and make laws in the public interest, but not allowing questions to be asked is objectionable,' the statement said.

He claimed that the government has not answered any of the questions he raised on Baisakh 28 and 29, and called this incident a black stain on the history of democracy and parliamentary practice.

Raising questions about the role of the Speaker, Rai said, 'The Speaker, who cannot bring the Prime Minister to the house, repeatedly lecturing the leader of the opposition party on rules appears condemnable and ridiculous. Intentions are more important than rules, and that intention should be in favor of the people and democracy.'