Nepal

UML sceptical of govt commitment to civic elections

UML sceptical of govt commitment to civic elections

By Himalayan News Service

FILE: Nepal Communist Party central office in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu. Photo: RSS

Kathmandu, February 16 The CPN-UML today said that it was sceptical regarding the government’s intentions as they alleged that the government was showing indifference to the need to prepare for polls. This was stated in the 12-point resolution adopted by the principal opposition’s politburo today. Stating that a serious constitutional crisis could arise if all three tiers of elections — local, provincial, and Parliamentary — could not be held within the next one year, the UML urged the government to announce the dates for all three tiers of elections and ensure that the local polls would be held by mid-May this year. The main opposition party also demanded the immediate enactment of election-related laws, the implementation of the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission’s report, and the formation of the Constituency Delimitation Commission. Saying that the constitution amendment bill was against national interest and the interests of the people, the UML urged the government to withdraw the bill from the Parliament. The party has urged the government to control separatist activities and violence, and has also opposed the government’s alleged activities that allowed foreign security personnel to come to Nepal with weapons. The UML has also accused the government of weakening the role of SAARC and dilly-dallying in implementation of past pacts that Nepal signed with neighbouring countries. The party has also emphasised the need of unity among parties that played key role in promulgating the new constitution. The main opposition party condemned what it called ‘government intervention’ in the judiciary, security agencies, and the National Reconstruction Authority. The party also condemned violent crimes and sexual assault committed against women in various parts of the country and incidents of discrimination against Dalits in various parts of the country. The opposition party has also urged the government to meet the genuine demands of the employees of local bodies and ensure that service seekers can get necessary services from the local bodies as before. The party also opposed the government decision to allow extraction of stones and sand from the Chure range. The UML’s politburo also endorsed party Chair KP Sharma Oli’s political document with some revisions.