Govt leadership under fire for under performance

Kathmandu, May 4        

Lawmakers of the main opposition Nepali Congress, ruling Unified CPN-Maoist and Madhes-based parties today alleged that the KP Sharma Oli-led government was incapable of addressing national problems and implementing the new constitution.

Taking part in today’s House meeting, the lawmakers underlined the need for a change of guard with broader consensus.

CPN-UML lawmakers, however, defended the government and urged the other parties not to become a part of the game of altering the government and creating challenges in institutionalising political achievements.

NC lawmaker Bir Bahadur Balayar accused PM Oli of making superficial and fanciful comments at a time when the country was facing difficult situation from all sides. “It seems as if the prime minister is always taking part in a national duet song competition and making irresponsible statements by forgetting that he is the chief executive,” he said.

He alleged that the PM was making the country a laboratory of the CPN-UML.

“Instead of providing relief to earthquake victims, the PM is making surprising comments adding further pain to the victims,” Balayar said.

Unified CPN-Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said a national consensus was necessary for effective implementation of the new constitution, expediting relief and reconstruction works and addressing the issues being raised by Madhes-based parties and people.

Venting anger at the government leadership, Mahara said the government had failed to perform as expected.

Meaningful discussions are not being held, tangible attempts are not being made to provide relief to earthquake-hit people and there has not been any constructive effort to address the concerns of agitating Madhes-based parties.

Stating that Maoist cadres were being charged in violation of the spirit of the comprehensive peace process, Mahara said the situation was such that the country was moving backward.

Upendra Yadav, leader of Federal Socialist Madhesi Forum Nepal, blamed the bigger parties of promulgating the new constitution without securing the people’s rights due to their haste to secure their position and power. He demanded formation of a high level commission to probe into the misappropriation of money collected for earthquake victims.

CPN-UML leader and former PM Jhalanath Khanal said that forming the new government and ousting the old one was a normal process in parliament. “However, all parties should make effective attempts to carry out the historic responsibility of implementing the new constitution without being involved in power games,” he said.

Stating that national consensus made big changes possible in the past, Khanal said, “All our attempts should be headed towards national consensus it will strengthen national unity. If we think in a different way before implementing the new constitution, it may cause loss to the country.”

Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal leader Dilanath Giri cautioned bigger parties not to be involved in the power game as it would not augur well for the country. There is no alternative but to move ahead with consensus.

Bikram Pande of Rastriya Prajantra Party criticised the government for its failure to provide relief to earthquake victims. Kamal Prasad Pangeni of Nepali Congress demanded that PM Oli clear the way by tendering his resignation as the government had failed in every front.

Shree Prasad Jawegu of UCPN-Maoist said a national unity government was imperative as the incumbent government had failed to deliver.

No objection to Dahal-led govt: RPP

KATHMANDU: Senior leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shamsher Rana on Wednesday said his party has no objection to a new consensus government under the leadership of UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Speaking at Reporter’s Club, he said that the KP Sharma O-led government was on the verge of collapse whether or not the RPP supported it.

Rana said a meeting of its three senior leaders and working committee would formally take a decision on the issue.

He charged that this government had delivered  during the post-quake reconstruction  even less than the government of Juddha Shamsher Rana and Marichman Singh Shrestha.

Rana was Prime Minister during the great 1934 earthquake, while Singh was leading the government during the 1988 earthquake in Nepal.