Harka demands PM resignation over Parliament conduct

KATHMANDU: Harka Sampang, leader of the Shram Sanskriti Party, has called on Prime Minister Balen Shah to immediately resign on moral grounds, accusing him of failing to uphold parliamentary dignity and democratic norms.

In a public statement, Sampang alleged that the Prime Minister disrespected Parliament and undermined the sovereignty of the people through repeated absences and what he described as a disregard for constitutional tradition.

He outlined four key accusations:

First, Sampang claimed that during the presentation of the government’s policy and program by President Ramchandra Paudel, the Prime Minister walked out of the parliamentary chamber and did not return.

Second, he alleged that when opposition lawmakers demanded the Prime Minister’s presence in Parliament, he instead followed proceedings remotely from a nearby office rather than attending in person.

Third, Sampang criticized the Prime Minister for being absent during debates on the policy and program, arguing that parliamentary tradition requires the head of government to be present to respond directly to lawmakers’ questions.

Fourth, he said the Prime Minister has not addressed Parliament in any session since taking office, calling it a serious deviation from democratic accountability.

Describing the developments as a “black mark in parliamentary history,” Sampang said the conduct reflects an inability to uphold parliamentary discipline and weakens public trust in democratic institutions.

He further questioned the legitimacy of a Prime Minister who, in his words, “hides from public questions” and avoids direct accountability, adding that such behavior sets a dangerous precedent for Nepal’s parliamentary system.

Sampang also warned against what he described as a growing tendency to bypass Parliament through ordinances, arguing that the government must be reminded of the legislature’s authority and purpose.