Kathmandu, September 19

The main opposition Nepali Congress today accused the government of supporting the ‘design’ to make federalism unpopular.

It said the delay in forming the National Natural Resource and Fiscal Commission had resulted in arbitrary imposition of tax by local bodies, making the system unpopular among people.

The NC said failure to assign names to all the provinces, finalise provincial headquarters and provincial governments publicly expressing their frustration suggested that the government was not serious about implementing the constitution.

NC Vice-president Bimalendra Nidhi said although the elections were held and seven provinces were formed, the central government was reluctant to share power with the provinces as per the constitution.

“The government has failed to fully implement all five major elements of the constitution — republicanism, federalism, inclusion, secularism and mixed electoral system,” said Nidhi at a press conference organised on the occasion of Constitution Day.

Stating that the constitution had yet to address the concerns of certain sections of society, Nidhi said his party was firm in its stand that the statute should be amended to address those concerns.

Nidhi also accused Madhes-based parties — Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal — of showing ‘dual character’ by participating in the election and supporting the government on the one hand, and observing ‘Black Day’ on the other.

NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma accused the government of flouting constitutional provisions by continuing with speakers and deputy speakers of federal as well as provincial assemblies from the same party.

Referring to the Nirmala Panta murder case in which the  administration had tried to protect the culprit by projecting an innocent as the perpetrator, Sharma said the government had failed to ensure law and order in the country.