KATHMANDU, MAY 18

The ambience of today's Lower House meeting looked different with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal scheduled to face direct question-answer session from lawmakers. He was questioned by 20 MPs from various political parties and independents.

The regulations that only 15 MPs can question the prime minister during a one-day session of the Parliament was unanimously overturned today. A total of 20 lawmakers questioned the prime minister.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Ramesh Lekhak had voted in favour of the proposal to suspend the 15 questions rule.

The prime minister stood on the rostrum and answered lawmakers' queries.

The parliamentarians particularly tried to ask the PM questions on burning issues. They asked about investigation of the Bhutanese refugee scam, the Citizenship Bill, corruption in cantonments, border encroachment by India, among others.

The PM also answered questions on the Tikapur carnage, peace process and transitional justice, government's efforts to improve the deteriorating economy of the country, fertilisers shortage faced by farmers and measures to prevent Nepali money from going abroad in the name of education.

Most of the lawmakers seemed interested in the ongoing investigation into the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.

PM Dahal said he would not interfere in the ongoing investigation into the Bhutanese refugee scam. 'No agency has interfered in the impartial and professional investigation of Nepal Police. There will be nointerference; it will not be entertained,' he said.

Answering the questions raised by the MPs, PM Dahal said the Citizenship Bill would be finalised within a month.

He said that from the Narayanhiti Palace massacre to the Madan Bhandari murder case, the investigation should be rekindled from a new angle.

PM Dahal said the government was trying to provide fertilisers to farmers on time this year and informed that an agreement had been reached with India for the import of fertilisers. He said the government had left no stone unturned to bring officials and persons found guilty on the basis of evidence to legal action at any level after conducting impartial investigation of the crime of converting Nepali citizens into fake Bhutanese refugees.

He further said, 'I would like to make it clear that other cases related to corruption will be investigated and prosecuted according to the law. We are committed to that end. Perpetrators should not escape and will not be spared. Whoever is involved in this crime will come under the law, regardless of the level and positions.'

PM Dahal said the Citizenship Bill would be finalised within a month. 'There is also an opinion in the House that a bill that has gone to zero cannot be considered alive. The same holds true outside of the House. This matter has been discussed. As the prime minister, I would like to say that it will be decided within a month.'

A version of this article appears in the print on May 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.