Kathmandu, June 20

Opposition leaders flayed the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the House of Representatives today for ‘bringing bills to curtail people’s religious and cultural freedom, freedom of expression, press freedom and powers of the National Human Rights Commission.

Taking part in the debate on Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives today, Nepali Congress leader Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar said Oli should take moral responsibility for bringing the Guthi Bill in contravention of the spirit of the constitution and should resign on moral grounds.

Lauding the role of journalists during Panchayat regime and royal takeover in 2005, Gachhadar said the government was trying to punish those who faced all kinds of adversities to herald and promote democracy. “Why should the government bring the Information Technology and Nepal Media Council Bill? Why is the government jailing journalists?” he wondered. He added that crackdown on media professionals was no different from the one during the Panchayat regime. Gachhadar also criticised the government for trying to curtail powers of the NHRC.

He said Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara should have allowed Leader of Opposition Sher Bahadur Deuba to speak in the House before the PM on Tuesday, as that was the precedent set by former speaker Damannath Dhungana. “The PM can always address the House, but as per the precedent and parliamentary norms, the House belongs to the opposition and the leader of opposition should be given priority. The PM could have easily responded to Deuba’s questions later,” Gachhadar added.

Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal lawmaker Mahantha Thakur also accused the government of attempting to curtail people’s rights by framing controversial laws. “There are cases around the world where the Parliament’s failure to check excesses of executive led to the rise of tyranny. I fear that our country is sliding in that direction,” he said.

Thakur said all the laws being enacted these days had some provisions that were aimed at curtailing peoples’ rights.

He added that Madhesi forces opposed the constitution because it created divisions between communities and regions, particularly between the hills and the Madhes. Thakur said the centre had allocated less budget for the development of Madhes and had failed to ensure representation by population.  “Madhes is being treated like a colony,” he added.

Thakur claimed that a lot of people who participated in Madhes movements were facing false charges. “The government has indicted even those who were not present at protest sites and those who were working in Malaysia,” he claimed. He added that the government should make public the Girish Chandra Lal Commission’s report and punish the guilty accordingly.