Kathmandu, July 30

The main opposition Nepali Congress plans to mobilise more than 500,000 people, including cadres, supporters, the general public and members of its sister organisations in its nationwide demonstrations planned for tomorrow against the federal as well as provincial governments’ ‘arbitrary moves that have undermined the rule of law’.

The party will stage demonstrations in all 77 district headquarters in order to make the public aware of the government’s ‘autocratic’ and ‘anti-people’ activities.

Among the major issues around which the protests will be centred include the present set-up where speakers and deputy speakers in both the Houses of the Federal Parliament as well as provincial assemblies are from same ruling Nepal Communist Party.

The NC has demanded that one among the speakers and deputy speakers (in both upper and lower houses of the Federal Parliament and provincial assemblies) should resign abiding by the provisions in Article 91 (2), Article 92 (2), and Article 182 (2) of the constitution whereby speakers and deputy speakers of the Federal Parliament as well as provincial assemblies should be from different parties.

Other issues include skyrocketing prices, ban on demonstrations at Maitighar Mandala, designating certain areas where protests can be staged; humiliation of Nepal Sanskrit University Vice-chancellor, rising tax rates, the government’s move to curtail press and individual freedom, and the government’s protection of a businessman making derogatory remarks about Nepali female students studying in Bangladesh, among others.

NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma said the demonstrations would also demand effective implementation of the agreement reached with Dr Govinda KC. He said preparations were in the final stages across the country to make the demonstrations successful by bringing more than 500,000 people to the streets. The party presently has more than 450,000 active members, besides members of its sister organisations.

NC youth leader Pradip Paudel said the demonstrations were not only aimed at making people aware about the irresponsible moves of the government, but also aimed at instilling new vigour among supporters and well-wishers of the NC. “Also, this will be a reply to Prime Minister KP Oli who had said that the NC could not mobilise more than 200 people,” he said.