Opposition demands apology from PM Shah over remarks on India-Nepal border.

Kathmandu – Opposition parties in the House of Representatives have demanded an apology from Prime Minister Balen Shah, deeming his recent remarks as detrimental to national interests, and have insisted on an apology to end the parliamentary deadlock.

A joint meeting of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepal Communist Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, held on Tuesday at the Nepali Congress parliamentary office in Singha Durbar, concluded that the Prime Minister must apologize. The Labour Culture Party did not participate in the meeting.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, CPN-UML Chief Whip Ayan Bahadur Mahara stated that the Prime Minister’s comments from the parliamentary rostrum, claiming “Nepal has also encroached on Indian land,” were against national interest.

The opposition parties have argued that the statement has humiliated all Nepalis and attacked Nepal’s sovereignty. They have demanded the Prime Minister immediately retract his statement and apologize to the nation. They also insist that the statement be removed from the parliamentary record.

Mahara said, “We held a detailed discussion on the Prime Minister’s statement from the parliamentary rostrum that Nepal has encroached on Indian land in several places. The meeting concluded that the statement is against national interest, treasonous in nature, and has humiliated all Nepalis and gravely attacked Nepal’s sovereignty. Therefore, our stance remains that the Prime Minister must immediately retract the statement, apologize to the nation, and have it removed from the parliamentary record.”

The opposition parties have expressed their openness to dialogue. Mahara mentioned that some informal proposals have been made by the ruling side regarding reopening the House. He stated that they would participate in an all-party meeting to be held in the coming days to express their views. The opposition parties have indicated that the parliamentary deadlock could be resolved if the Prime Minister corrects his statement and the government acts responsibly.