National
Congress to protest if PM does not answer
The opposition Nepali Congress has said it won’t allow the House to function properly until Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli answers the questions of lawmakers over his statement to Parliament.Anil Giri
The opposition Nepali Congress has said it won’t allow the House to function properly until Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli answers the questions of lawmakers over his statement to Parliament.
NC lawmakers obstructed the House of Representatives on Sunday after Oli’s speech saying that Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara had not allowed them to ask him questions about the government’s activities.
Congress lawmakers protested that Oli had failed to address allegations of corruption while procuring two wide-body Airbus planes and delays in the Sikta Irrigation and Budhigandaki hydroelectricity projects.
“The PM must attend the House on Wednesday to furnish his replies or we won’t allow the House proceedings,” said NC lawmaker Gagan Thapa. He added that the NC had sent the names of five lawmakers to the Speaker who would question Oli, charging that Mahara had acted like a party cadre in his effort to defend Oli’s address.
Sunday’s meeting was postponed after commotion by the Congress lawmakers. Parliamentary regulations require the prime minister and ministers to attend the House at least twice a month to answer lawmakers’ questions.
The Lower House is scheduled to convene at 1pm on Wednesday.