NC stages demonstration in all local levels

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 16

The main opposition Nepali Congress today held demonstrations in all 753 local levels across the country against the government’s December 20 move to dissolve the House of Representative.

Majority of senior leaders of the NC flayed the government for dissolving the House and termed the move unconstitutional. They also said that the government was heading towards authoritarianism.

Addressing a mass in Bharatpur Municipality, Chitwan, NC’s senior leader Ramchandra Paudel said it was the communist leaders who had derailed the country’s path of development and prosperity towards communalism and regression, while all neighbouring countries were swiftly heading towards prosperity. He further said, “Nepal at the moment stands at a very critical juncture as world powers such as the US, China and India are trying to impose their interest on us. At this critical time, the prime minister has weakened our constitution and our nation like never before.”

He further said that it was now the duty of every citizen to save the constitution of the country and the nation itself by reinstating the dissolved House. “But, no one should assume that through our protests we are exerting pressure on the Supreme Court about a case sub-judice in the court.”

At least 12 cases against dissolution of the House have been filed at the SC after President Bidhya Devi Bhandari approved the House dissolution and declared the election dates for April 30 and May 10.

Gagan Thapa also slammed the government move. “House dissolution is not only an unconstitutional move, but also Oli’s desire to prolong his premiership.” He also criticised PM KP Sharma Oli for making a public statement about keeping the SC under his control. “Oli has publicly said that they had a seat in the SC. What does that mean?” He questioned.

“Nepali people are not just waiting for SC’s verdict, but also waiting for the SC to rectify the unconstitutional move of the PM.”

NC has been holding nationwide demonstrations, including in the federal constituencies and provincial constituencies, from December-end. A Central Working Committee meeting of the NC held on January 3 had decided to hold protest rallies in all 330 provincial constituencies on January 9, and 753 municipalities and rural municipalities on January 16.

It will also organise ward level protest programmes in all 6,743 wards on January 21.

NC, along with other opposition parties including the Pushpa Kamal Dahal – Madhav Kumar Nepal faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, has been staging various protest programmes across the country, calling the government move unconstitutional and authoritative.