A dispute over Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s recent remarks on Nepal-India border issues continues to disrupt parliamentary proceedings, with the government now stating that the prime minister is prepared to return to the House of Representatives and respond again if required.
The controversy has become one of the most sensitive political issues in recent parliamentary sessions, not only because of the subject matter but also because it has raised questions about how national concerns linked to sovereignty and borders should be discussed in public forums.
Government Defends Prime Minister’s Position
Speaking to journalists after a Cabinet meeting, government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel said the prime minister remains accountable to Parliament and is not avoiding questions raised by lawmakers.
According to the government, Shah did not make any new territorial claim during his address. Officials argue that his remarks were made in reference to information that has surfaced through existing diplomatic and technical mechanisms that have long been engaged in studying unresolved border matters between Nepal and India.
Pokharel said border-related concerns should be handled through established diplomatic processes rather than political slogan-making.
She reiterated that both Nepal and India have relied on formal diplomatic channels to address boundary issues and that dialogue remains the accepted path for resolving outstanding matters.
Remarks Trigger Political Confrontation
The dispute began after Shah told Parliament that he had come across new information regarding border issues after becoming prime minister. During that discussion, he suggested there could be areas where Nepal might also be using land that falls within Indian territory.
That statement immediately drew objections from opposition parties.
Opposition lawmakers have insisted that the issue is too serious to be left unanswered. They have been demanding that the prime minister provide further clarification in Parliament and that the disputed remarks be removed from the official parliamentary record.
Parliamentary Deadlock Persists
The disagreement has continued to affect regular parliamentary business, with opposition parties refusing to soften their position.
The government, however, maintains that Shah has already addressed the House on the matter and remains willing to do so again if lawmakers consider it necessary.
For the government, the central message remains unchanged: border questions should be approached through facts, diplomacy and dialogue. Yet the continuing deadlock inside Parliament shows that the political fallout from the prime minister’s remarks is far from over.
