Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today accused the government of making the Constitutional Council its puppet by recruiting sycophants to constitutional bodies.

Speaking at Annual General Assembly of Democratic Lawyers’ Association in Pokhara, Deuba warned of waging agitation from both the streets and the Parliament as the government had been acting unilaterally by renouncing consensus at the Constitutional Council.

“The government has turned the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority into the then Shahi Commission which is not acceptable to the Nepali Congress,”

Deuba added.

I have heard that the government has prepared an ordinance related to the Constitutional Council and forwarded it to the president. The-six-member council with prime minister should make unanimous decision. But, the ordinance drafted by the government states that three members are enough for quorum, said Deuba. He said he would not allow the passage of the ordinance at any cost.

Deuba alleged that Oli-led government had seized people’s rights and weakened democracy.

“The government is seizing rights of judiciary and journalists too. It is trying to invite conflict,” he warned.

Deuba said KP Oli’s nationalism had turned into surrender. He accused Oli of using nationalism card just to win the polls. He urged the democratic lawyers to be ready to fight against the crisis facing the nation.

At the programme, senior NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel said Prime Minister KP Oli had tried to keep the Constitutional Council in his pocket.

“It is unlawful act of the prime minister to keep the Constitutional Council that appoints chief justice, and heads of other constitutional bodies under his control,” Poudel said.