Prime Minister Balen Shah Attends 4 Parliamentary Sessions, Faces Controversy

Kathmandu. During the second session of the Federal Parliament, Prime Minister Balen Shah attended a total of 4 meetings. He has been embroiled in controversy in 3 of those meetings. The budget session of the Federal Parliament, which started on Baisakh 28, is still ongoing. In the ongoing session, Prime Minister Shah was present in Parliament on Baisakh 28, the day President Ram Chandra Paudel read the government's policy and program, on Jestha 15, the day Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle presented the budget for the fiscal year 2083/84, on Jestha 17, and on Ashad 29. On the days he was present, the Prime Minister was embroiled in controversy, except for the day the government's budget was presented. Prime Minister Shah became controversial for leaving in the middle of the President reading the government's policy and program and for not wearing formal attire. While the President was presenting the government's policy and program in Parliament, Prime Minister Shah left the meeting about 50 minutes after President Paudel started presenting the policy and program. He did not go to the meeting hall to bid farewell to the President after the policy and program reading. When the proposal to thank the President was tabled in the House of Representatives, the main opposition Congress demanded the government's stance the next day as the Prime Minister said nothing. It was criticized that by leaving the parliamentary meeting midway, not only Parliament and the President, but also the government's most important policy document 'Policy and Program' was insulted. Apart from that, the attire he wore that day also came up for discussion in the House. The issue of wearing a coat over a t-shirt and 'shoes' was also raised by the opposition in the House. However, Prime Minister Shah's chief political advisor Asim Shah clarified the issue of the Prime Minister leaving midway through a social media post. He mentioned that the Prime Minister had to take some rest due to health discomfort. 'It is informed that the Honorable Prime Minister took some rest during the presentation of the policy and program due to health discomfort, after which he rejoined the program. His health condition is normal,' wrote political advisor Shah. However, Shah removed the status within a few minutes. On Jestha 15, the day the budget was presented, he attended the House of Representatives meeting, but no such controversy emerged. However, two days later, on Jestha 17, the Prime Minister unexpectedly attended the House of Representatives meeting. After attending the meeting and asking for time to speak by raising his hand like a normal MP, the Prime Minister asked the MPs to ask questions after reaching the rostrum. Then Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal gave time to one person from each party to ask a question. However, the opposition parties protested, saying that the procedure and process of the House of Representatives rules were not followed during the question-and-answer session. Nevertheless, the question-and-answer session continued. While answering a question from Shram Sanskriti Party MP Aryan Rai, Prime Minister Shah made a controversial statement to the effect that 'India has not only encroached on Nepal's land, but Nepal has also encroached on India's land.' The opposition parties are still demanding that the Prime Minister either present the facts about where Nepal has encroached on India's land or remove the statement from the parliamentary record and apologize at the rostrum of Parliament, calling it anti-national. The opposition parties, which obstructed the parliamentary session for a few days over this issue, are now allowing the meeting to proceed by raising their concerns as soon as the meeting starts regarding the removal of this issue. However, the Prime Minister has neither corrected the statement nor has the Speaker removed the statement from the parliamentary record. For the fourth time, Shah attended the meeting on Ashad 29, Tuesday. Prime Minister Shah entered at 1:37 PM along with Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Ravi Lamichhane, stayed for about 20 minutes, and left. This was when the opposition parties were demanding a response from the Prime Minister. But he left without responding. Not only that, but there was also an objection that he violated the rules of the House of Representatives. Chief Whip of the opposition party UML, Ain Mahar, raised a point of order. Mahar raised a point of order, stating that Prime Minister Balen Shah and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Ravi Lamichhane violated parliamentary etiquette and rules by walking between the Speaker's seat and the speaking member. Mahar recalled the provision of clause 6 of rule 20 of the House of Representatives rules and raised a point of order in Parliament. According to that rule, no one should walk between the Speaker's seat and the speaking member. 'While Honorable Khusbu Oli was speaking in Parliament, the Honorable Prime Minister and the ruling party Chairman Ravi Lamichhane violated that rule by walking between the Speaker and the speaking member,' Mahar said. 'Such practice undermines parliamentary dignity.' Regarding this, Shram Sanskriti Party MP Aaren Rai commented that whenever Prime Minister Shah is present in Parliament, some problem or the other arises. MP Rai mentioned this on his Facebook on Tuesday, raising an issue contrary to the House of Representatives rules. 'The House of Representatives 2080 rules state that no honorable member can walk in front while speaking, or while the Speaker is speaking. It is a matter of dignity or defamation. Today, our Honorable Khusbu Oli was speaking. Chairman and the Honorable Prime Minister walked in front of her,' said MP Rai. 'It seems that whenever he is present in Parliament, some problem or the other is created. I don't know what is happening. It would be better not to do this. That's why we said that one must be accountable to the House.'