KATHMANDU: Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal on Monday directed Prime Minister Balendra Shah “Balen” to attend the next meeting of the House of Representatives and respond to questions raised by lawmakers. The Speaker’s ruling comes amid a prolonged protest by opposition lawmakers.

Citing provisions of the House of Representatives Regulations, 2083, Speaker Aryal instructed the Prime Minister to appear before Parliament and answer lawmakers’ questions.

“I have taken note of the protests by honorable members over a long period, demanding a question-and-answer session with the Prime Minister on important matters concerning the Prime Minister or matters falling under his jurisdiction, as provided under Rule 56 of the House of Representatives Regulations, 2083,” Aryal said.

“In this context, I direct the Right Honorable Prime Minister to attend the meeting of the House of Representatives and respond to the questions of honorable members in accordance with Rules 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60 of the regulations,” he added.

The House of Representatives Regulations provide for a direct question-and-answer session between lawmakers and the Prime Minister once a month. However, Prime Minister Shah has not yet participated in such a session as required by the regulations.

Although opposition parties had repeatedly demanded a ruling from the Speaker, Aryal had not issued one previously. Meanwhile, he had held several meetings with Prime Minister Shah in an effort to resolve the dispute.

The Speaker formally issued the ruling on Monday, more than two and a half months after the controversy began.

Following the Speaker’s directive for the Prime Minister to appear in Parliament and respond to lawmakers, opposition lawmakers have suspended their protest. However, the Speaker has not addressed the opposition’s demand to remove Shah’s controversial remarks from the parliamentary record. A decision on whether to remove the remarks could be taken only after the Prime Minister provides his response.