Parliament stalemate deepens over controversial remarks, talks continue

KATHMANDU: Political deadlock in federal parliament continued on Wednesday after opposition parties demanded clarification over controversial remarks attributed to Prime Minister Balen Shah regarding alleged border issues with India.

The dispute has disrupted parliamentary proceedings for more than a week, with opposition lawmakers insisting on a formal explanation about claims that Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory—remarks that have triggered intense political debate.

Efforts to break the impasse are underway, with opposition parties putting forward a middle-ground proposal.

According to Chief Whip of the CPN-UML, Ain Maher, one option under discussion is allowing a written statement from the Prime Minister to be read in parliament by a minister.

However, the proposal has not gained full consensus.

Leaders from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have rejected the idea of a proxy statement, insisting instead that Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal should directly clarify the government’s position on the issue in parliament.

RSP President Rabi Lamichhane has been holding discussions with opposition leaders in an attempt to unlock the parliamentary deadlock.

Despite ongoing negotiations, disagreement persists over who should formally address the controversy in the House.

The parliamentary session scheduled for 11 a.m. was postponed until 2 p.m. as talks continued behind the scenes.

The controversy centers on remarks attributed to Balen Shah suggesting that Nepal has also encroached on Indian territory—claims that opposition parties say require official clarification from the highest level.

Shah has reportedly declined to appear in parliament to address the matter directly, further complicating efforts to restore normal proceedings.

Negotiations are ongoing, but a breakthrough remains uncertain as political parties remain divided over the format and authority of any official clarification.