Balen gets medical pass to wear trademark dark glasses in parliament

Nepal parliament secretariat cleared PM Balendra Shah to wear his trademark dark sunglasses inside parliament on medical grounds after his office submitted a medical report, ending a row over whether such eyewear belonged in the House. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal had earlier advised lawmakers against wearing dark glasses in the chamber following public criticism.Parliament secretariat spokesperson Ekaram Giri said Shah’s office submitted documents showing he needed them for medical reasons -- his doctor advised him to wear the shades because he had "discomfort seeing in bright light". Shah is scheduled to face lawmakers in a direct question-and-answer session on Wednesday, amid opposition criticism over his repeated absence from parliament.Shah’s rectangular black shades had long been part of his public image, accompanying the former rapper and Kathmandu mayor through his rise to Nepal’s top office. Ahead of Nepal’s March 5 elections, supporters dubbed the look “Balen dai ko chashma”, triggering a fashion craze among young voters. Similar black rectangular frames sold out at several Kathmandu shops and online stores as demand surged, with retailers marketing lookalikes. Often paired with his all-black outfits, the shades became one of the most recognisable symbols of Shah’s youth appeal.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.