Govt weakening federalism, says NC leader Gagan Thapa

Pokhara, February 4

Nepali Congress central member Gagan Kumar Thapa today said the incumbent government was unsuccessful in every area.

Addressing a protest assembly organised by Nepali Congress, Kaski, in Pokhara today, Thapa held that the KP Sharma Oli led government was moving against the norms of democracy. “The activities of the government have been weakening federalism,” he said.

Thapa said that people expect the government, with its two-thirds majority, to strengthen federalism, but the government trying to make democracy feeble. “Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has made the Parliament like a ministry and has also tried to make the Public Service commission and the courts useless,” he said.

Thapa further said that the government was to give results to the people, but was focused on demolishing tradition and did not listen to the opposition’s voice. He advised Prime Minister Oli to learn a lesson from late Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala who had played key roles in  framing the constitution and bringing about change in the country. “The president is buying expensive vehicles and helicopter and the prime minister is constructing residence while the people cannot receive treatment in the country,” he said.

Thapa said that six months had passed, but the government was yet to arrest culprits involved in the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta. “There is no peace and security and corruption is rampant,” he added. Thapa said that the government has stopped tackling the transport syndicate, finding culprits in the gold smuggling case, cracking down on foreign job racketeers and cracking down on contractors who do not complete their work on time, among others.

Similarly, NC leader Kumar Khadka said the government has neglected the need to take action against those involved in the Ncell tax evasion case and the wide body aircraft purchase scam. Former minister Yagya Bahadur Thapa said the Oli-led government with its two-thirds majority had tried to dump democratic procedures.