KATHMANDU, Sept 16: Questions are being raised in parliamentary circles over when Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah will face lawmakers for a question-and-answer session after the program, postponed following the devastating Bhotekoshi and Trishuli floods, was left out of the latest fortnightly work schedule of the House of Representatives (HoR).
The parliamentary secretariat's fortnightly tentative schedule for the period from September 17 to October 1 does not include the direct question-and-answer session with the prime minister. With the monsoon, or budget, session of parliament nearing its end, Prime Minister Shah has yet to face lawmakers for a question-and-answer session during the ongoing session. Opposition parties have begun drawing Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal's attention to the issue.
Under Rule 56 of the House of Representatives Regulations, one hour at the beginning of a House meeting on any day during the first week of each month must be allocated for questions to the prime minister. Following repeated demands from opposition parties, a question-and-answer session with Prime Minister Shah had been scheduled for August 26. Eleven lawmakers had registered questions.
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The prime minister had also been preparing for the session. However, the program was postponed after devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers caused heavy loss of life and property on the morning of the scheduled session. The home minister briefed the House on the floods and disaster management during the meeting that day.
The failure to include the prime minister's question-and-answer session in the new schedule has raised questions over government accountability and parliamentary procedure. Main opposition Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Vishmaraj Angdembe met Speaker Aryal and drew his serious attention to the issue.
Angdembe has demanded that the session be put on the agenda before Prime Minister Shah leaves for the United States in the third week of September to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. According to Angdembe, the prime minister must face parliament to make the government and the legislature accountable to the people.
Angdembe also urged the speaker to form a high-level parliamentary mechanism to send a message of unity among all parties during the disaster and accelerate relief and reconstruction efforts.
The ruling side has said the question-and-answer session was not included in the latest schedule because the prime minister has been busy coordinating with political parties and overseeing search, rescue and post-disaster reconstruction efforts.
The main opposition, however, has argued that the session cannot be repeatedly postponed because it is mandated by the House regulations and is an integral part of parliamentary proceedings.
The new schedule has seven House meetings until October 1. Speaker Aryal has said he is positive about coordinating with the government to schedule the question-and-answer session before the prime minister's US visit.
