Opposition Demands PM’s Apology Over Border Remark

Kathmandu — Opposition parties represented in the House of Representatives have objected to Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s recent statement, calling it against the national interest and demanding an apology as a condition for ending the parliamentary deadlock.

A joint meeting of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepal Communist Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party was held on Tuesday at the Nepali Congress parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar. The Shram Sanskriti Party did not attend the meeting.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, CPN-UML Chief Whip Ain Bahadur Mahar said the Prime Minister’s statement from the parliamentary rostrum that “Nepal has also encroached on Indian land” was contrary to Nepal’s national interest.

The opposition parties concluded that the statement had lowered the dignity of all Nepalis and amounted to a serious blow to Nepal’s sovereignty. They demanded that the Prime Minister immediately withdraw the remark, apologize to the people, and have the statement removed from Parliament’s official record.

Mahar said the opposition’s position remains unchanged: the House obstruction will continue unless the Prime Minister corrects his statement and the government acts responsibly.

The opposition parties, however, have said they are open to dialogue. Mahar said they would attend an all-party meeting proposed to resolve the parliamentary impasse and present their views there.