DHANGADI, SEPTEMBER 8

NCP Mashal General Secretary Mohan Bikram Singh has accused the CPN-UML of colluding with royalists.

Speaking at a press conference in Dhangadi today, Singh claimed that UML and royalists were conspiring against republicanism and secularism.

'In fact, the threat of a subversion is bigger now than the one we faced in around the 60s,' the NCP Mashal leader said. 'The threat of subversion is always represented by royalists, but now UML chair KP Oli is leading this camp as UML has joined its neck with the former king now,' he argued. He also cautioned against attempts to finish off republicanism and secularism.

Singh cited royalists' gesture of the welcome of Oli-engineered House dissolution on two occasions, Oli's direction to construct Ram temple in Chitwan, and installation of a gold pinnacle on the roof of Pashupatinath temple as evidence that there were conspiracies to push the country back to the status of Hindu state. 'Even the strong Hindu government of India had garnered support for Oli in reinstating the Hindu state identity,' he said.

The leader also noted Oli's cynicism and controversial remark on republicanism that securing republicanism for Nepal would be tantamount to making for America in a bullock cart.

Furthermore, Singh portrayed the coalition as a force meant to counter the conspiracies of subversion.

'The next election is going to be a major test for the leaders and people, and the gains of republicanism and secularism will be protected only if the coalition wins,' he said.

'Though we have differences of opinion on issues such as federalism and nationalism, we had to opt for the coalition to save the country from subversion,' he added.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 9, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.