Kathmandu : CPN (UML) has raised questions about why Prime Minister Balen Shah is afraid of the parliament. In the meeting of the House of Representatives held on Tuesday, UML Chief Whip Ain Bahadur Mahar accused the Prime Minister of trying to stay away from the parliament.
He questioned why the government and its head, who received so much public mandate, are so terrified of the parliament and why attempts are being made to evade it. Accusing the Prime Minister of being irresponsible towards the parliament, he stated that the government is moving ahead against the constitution and parliamentary practice.
He mentioned that the government is violating Articles 76(10) and 81 of the constitution. According to him, the constitution clearly stipulates that the Prime Minister and ministers must be accountable to the parliament, but the Prime Minister has not yet appeared in the parliament to answer any questions. He also accused that attempts are being made to create distance between the executive and the president, and activities are being carried out to insult and bypass the institution of the president.
Speaking in the meeting, Chief Whip Mahar said, ‘Why is the government and its head, who received so much immense public mandate, so terrified of this parliament? Why are they staying away from the parliament and trying to evade it? This is a common question of all the general public and everyone represented in the parliament today. This parliament produced the Prime Minister, and the devaluation of the parliament that produced oneself has made the Nepali people and the parliament serious. The government is violating Articles 76(10) and 81 of the constitution. Article 76(10) has a provision that the Prime Minister and ministers must be accountable to the parliament, but the Prime Minister has not come to the parliament even once to answer any matter. There is no response, no respect from him towards this. The practices that exist have been negated.’
He further stated that discussions are surfacing about the Prime Minister not addressing the Republic Day, which has raised further questions about the government’s role. He demanded that Prime Minister Shah appear in parliament and provide clear answers on all these matters.
He added, ‘Currently, efforts are being made to create distance between the executive and the president. This is also a serious violation of the constitution. It raises questions, a task force is being formed for discussions on constitutional amendment, what kind of debate is being sought to be created? What is intended by disrespecting and bypassing the institution of the president? It is being heard that the Prime Minister will not address the Republic Day, such serious questions have arisen, and the Prime Minister must answer them in this parliament. The Prime Minister is ignoring many things in the parliamentary rules, why is he trying to become a ‘khopi ko dewata’ (idol in a niche)? Is Prime Minister Balen Shah being made an idol in a niche to be worshipped by ringing a bell? Is ‘Balen-tancy’ being established by tearing apart democracy? Is ‘Balen-tancy’ being established by tearing apart the constitution? The Prime Minister must come to the house and answer these questions. Parliamentary proceedings cannot move forward without the Prime Minister being present in the parliament.’
