KATHMANDU, JULY 24
In yet another show of power, the KP Sharma Oli faction of CPN-UML revived the once dissolved youth wing - Youth Force - today amid a rally in the capital today.
Hundreds of youths, also ardent supporters of Oli, wearing red t-shirts and cap marched through the street from Baneshwor to Maitighar where they converged into a corner meeting. Following this, a gathering was held at Karki Banquet where a 1,101-member Valley Command Force was formed under the command of Youth Force Deputy Chief Pushpa Raj Shrestha.
Youths under the leadership of CPM-UML lawmaker Mahesh Basnet have been staging discourteous protests and spitting venom at the party's senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal after its Chairman Oli was ousted from the office of the PM. The participants in today's programme, like in previous days, chanted slogans against Nepal for siding with the opposition and voting for opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba's bid to gain confidence vote in the Parliament.
Today's programme was scheduled to be addressed by Oli himself. But, Oli's did not show up at today's programme.
Addressing the function, General Secretary Pokharel directed the Youth Force not to go against the sentiments of youths and focus more on voluntary works and to be involved in creative work. Talking about ousting Oli from Baluwatar, he said, "We oblige to the supremacy of the Supreme Court. We oblige to the rule of law. But, the Youth Force should fight against forces that act against the people's verdict."
He also urged the cadres and supporters to inform people about the good works done by the UML so far.
Youth Force Chairman Mahesh Basnet, who led today's programme, said that they would wreak havoc in the country if the government introduced an ordinance with the ill-intention of splitting the UML and revoking the political appointments made by the Oli government. He also stressed that the Youth Force would not remain quiet if the government introduced a supplementary budget and amended the constitution to increase the number of ministerial portfolios in the federal government.
Despite the grandiose show of power, reviving the youth wing has drawn criticism from within the party itself.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 25 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
