Kathmandu— Nepal’s House of Representatives Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has directed Prime Minister Balendra Shah to respond to questions from lawmakers in a parliamentary session, resolving a 77-day protest by opposition parties. The ruling, issued Monday during the opening of the HoR meeting, mandates that the Prime Minister address concerns according to Rules 56 through 60 of the House of Representatives Rules and will take place on August 26. This decision comes after sustained demonstrations demanding the Prime Minister’s presence and accountability in addressing parliamentary inquiries.

Long-Running Opposition Protests

Opposition members of parliament had been protesting for 77 days, seeking a commitment from the Prime Minister to appear before the House and answer their questions. The Speaker’s ruling effectively addresses these demands, establishing a framework for regular question-and-answer sessions.

Parliamentary Procedure Outlined

According to the rules of the House of Representatives, the Speaker is responsible for setting a date for the question-and-answer session. Lawmakers will submit their questions in writing, and the Prime Minister is then obligated to provide responses during the parliamentary meeting. This process ensures transparency and accountability between the executive branch and the legislature.

Additional Issues Raised by Lawmakers

Speaker Aryal also instructed the government to respond within three days to issues raised by MPs Gopal Sharma and Ashika Tamang during the HoR meeting. Sharma highlighted a lack of response regarding support for areas affected by the Jajarkot earthquake, while Tamang brought attention to the case of Santosh Rai, whose body remains abroad with delays in repatriation despite allocated funding.

The Prime Minister is now scheduled to appear before parliament on August 26 to address questions from lawmakers, marking a resolution to the recent parliamentary protests and establishing a process for future accountability.

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.