Miscellaneous
Government must answer to queries raised by MPs: Speaker Mahara
Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Wednesday issued a ruling to the government to respond to lawmakers queries on issues of public importance following the opposition’s demonstration in Parliament.Binod Ghimire
Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Wednesday issued a ruling to the government to respond to lawmakers queries on issues of public importance following the opposition’s demonstration in Parliament.
The ruling comes three days after the Nepali Congress demonstrated in Parliament after the Speaker refused to allow opposition lawmakers to ask questions to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli following his address in the House. The Congress lawmakers obstructed the House proceedings demanding permission to ask questions.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the opposition lawmakers stood from their seats immediately after the commencement of the House and repeated their demand to allow a question-answer session with the prime minister.
Putting his views, Congress Chief Whip Balkrishna Khand said the lawmakers had authority to ask questions to Oli and his ministers and they should respond to their concerns. He said it was the duty of the Speaker to make sure lawmakers get to ask questions as allowed by the law and make the government responsible. He also threatened to obstruct House again if their concerns remained unaddressed.
Responding to Khand, Speaker Mahara said he was serious on the issue and asked the government to be available for the answers. “I issue a ruling to the government to respond lawmakers’ concerns,” Mahara said. On Sunday, Mahara did not allow NC lawmakers to ask questions, saying there was no provision for the same.
The main opposition on Wednesday had planned to obstruct the House proceeding if there was no commitment from the Speaker to let lawmakers ask questions.