KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 28

Tens of thousands of demonstrators today joined the nationwide protest organised by the Nepali Congress in all the 165 constituencies represented in the House of Representatives to protest the prime minister’s move to dissolve the HoR.

Addressing one such demonstration at Thimi in Bhaktapur, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba said the party would fully comply with the Supreme Court verdict on the dissolution of the HoR. “We will not try to threaten or intimidate the court to get a favourable verdict. That’s not the way our party functions. We understand the court has a right to use its own conscience. Respecting that, we will comply with any decision of the court,” said Deuba.

He refrained from giving his opinion in the case, saying it is not right to comment on a sub judice case as he is in favour of an independent judiciary.

On December 20, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli recommended dissolution of the HoR and mid-term polls. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari promptly approved it and set April 30 and May 10 as polling days.

At least 12 petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the decision to dissolve the HoR.

Addressing the gathering at Shanti Batika in Kathmandu, NC leader Prakash Man Singh flayed the Oli government for violating the spirit of the constitution. “It was the NC which promulgated this constitution and passed it through the Constituent Assembly.

We will not remain mere spectators while the government violates the constitution.

We will counter Oli’s move from the streets,” added Prakash Man Singh. He accused Oli of settling personal scores with dissidents in his party by dissolving the HoR.

Ramchandra Paudel, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress, said while addressing a gathering at Tanahun that he had faith in the court.