Opposition Nepali Congress criticises PM Balendra Shah's absence from parliament

KATHMANDU, Jul 6: Nepali Congress on Monday criticised Prime Minister Balendra Shah for his absence from parliament and accused the government of sidelining the opposition parties by taking unilateral decisions on major issues.

Speaking in the House of Representatives, Bhishma Raj Angdembe, Parliamentary Party leader of opposition Nepali Congress, said that despite being elected democratically, Balendra Shah "is functioning with the mindset of North Korea."

"In a democratic system, the Prime Minister should be accountable to the Parliament. If the Prime Minister shows his presence through social media rather than being physically present in the Parliament, how can the dignity of the Parliament be maintained?" Angdembe asked.

He said that dialogue and understanding play a crucial role in democracy and the government should "accommodate the voice of those who disagree with it."

Angdembe accused the government of trying to move forward unilaterally while taking decisions on major issues, sidelining the opposition parties.

Referring to the functioning of the government in the first hundred days, Angdembe said that this government prefers "distance rather than dialogue, confrontation rather than cooperation and unilateral decision-making rather than through consultation."

The government should move forward by building a common viewpoint on the issue of national importance, Angdembe said.

"In democracy, it is different to be popular and to be responsible towards the Parliament. It is easier to become viral in social media than to function in a responsible way as the head of the government," he said. (PTI)