Prime Minister Balendra Shah Commits to Attending Parliament to Respond to Lawmakers

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has expressed his commitment to attend parliament at an appropriate time and respond to the lawmakers. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal informed that Prime Minister Balendra stated, “I will come to parliament at the appropriate time and answer the parliamentarians.”

Amid opposition parties’ protests in the House of Representatives, the Alternative Development Finance Mobilization Bill was passed. On May 21, Kathmandu, Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) committed to appearing before parliament and addressing the members when the time is right. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal conveyed this during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Procedure Consultation Committee.

Opposition parties in the House of Representatives have been demanding the presence of Prime Minister Balen. Following obstruction of parliamentary proceedings due to his absence, Speaker Aryal visited Prime Minister Balen at Singha Durbar on Thursday. During that meeting, Prime Minister Balen assured Speaker Aryal and the committee members that “I will come to parliament at the proper time and respond to the parliamentarians,” the speaker relayed.

In the absence of the prime minister, opposition parties had begun chanting slogans in the House of Representatives. Despite the protests from opposition MPs, Speaker Aryal continued the proceedings. The Alternative Development Finance Mobilization Bill was passed amid these disruptions. Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle had proposed clause-wise discussion of the bill. The speaker presented the submitted amendment proposals for decision.

Despite the ongoing slogans, the bill was passed. While opposition members protested, the House also passed proposals to discuss the ‘House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Bill,’ the ‘Voter List (First Amendment) Bill,’ and the ‘National Forensic Science Laboratory (Establishment and Operation) Bill.’ The next meeting of the House of Representatives has been scheduled for May 26.