Kathmandu, July 21:

Speaker of the House of Representatives Subas Nembang today ordered ministers to attend sessions of the House and respond to queries raised by Members of Parliament (MPs).

“As the MPs have been raising serious questions it is the duty of the ministers to attend the House sessions and answer the queries,” Nembang said.

MPs also criticised the ministers for disrespecting the parliament. Though discussions were scheduled to take place on the budget allocation under the Ministry of Water Resources, they could not take place as the government did not provide appropriation books.

The MPs criticised the Minister of Water Resources, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, who was absent in the session despite the House’s plan to discuss his ministry’s budget. MPs Raghuji Pant and Birodh Khatiwoda urged the Speaker to ask ministers to attend the House sessions or postpone scheduled discussions.

Nepali Congress (D) MP Bijay Kumar Gachhedar called on the government and the Maoists to sign peace and human rights accords so that the UN can assist in the peace process in the country. He said the Maoist army is showing its might in several districts at a time when the world is watching the peace process very seriously.