Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed the winter session of the parliament on Sunday, underlining the achievements made by his administration during its 10-month tenure.

PM’s address was expected to answer questions raised about the functioning of the government including the scandal surrounding the purchase of wide-body aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation. But at the beginning of his address, PM said he would not dwell upon those issues and instead brief the parliament about the status of the implementation of this fiscal year’s budget and policies and programmes.

Oli said the criticisms against the president by opposition parties were attack to the republic system. He said every decisions regarding the president’s office in Sheetal Niwas is taken by the government and not by the president. “President cannot ask for or oppose any decisions. How can the attack on an institution which doesn’t speak be justified,” he questioned.  

The government has come under fire for its decision to expand the president’s office premises by acquiring the Nepal Police Academy, procure a motorcade for president at steep price, and relocate vice president’s office.

PM also said he was frequently asked about railways and waterways in social media and urged for patience before one can finally buy tickets for it.

Lawmakers from Nepali Congress obstructed the Parliament after the address saying they were not given time by Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara to ask questions to the PM about the government functioning. Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa said they had sent names of five lawmakers who would question the PM but speaker Mahara acted like a party leader and instead tried to cover up the PM’s address. Thapa said PM could have addressed from his office in Singha Durbar if he was not willing to answer the questions from opposition lawmakers.

Parliament meeting has been postponed until Wednesday after obstruction from Congress lawmakers.

Watch PM's full address below.