Kathmandu, December 23

The principal opposition party, Nepali Congress, today concluded its 10-day Maha Samiti meeting, pledging to become the number one party in the next general elections.

Speaking at the concluding session of the event, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior leader Ramchandra Paudel pledged to end factionalism in the party to fight the ‘authoritarian regime’ led by KP Sharma Oli. Deuba also urged participants to be ready to take to the streets against the government. He said party workers should strive to make the party the number one outfit.

The Maha Samiti issued a 15-point resolution blaming the government for minimising the opposition’s role and politicising government institutions. It states that Oli was trying to turn government institutions into his own party’s wings. “The government is exerting pressure on constitutional bodies to toe its line. This has to stop,” NC stated in its release. It added that the government’s attempt at totalitarianism would fail.

NC stated that it did not support or oppose any religion and fully abided by the provisions of the constitution. The NC also criticised Oli’s government for hobnobbing with Universal Peace Federation, a controversial INGO that held Asia Pacific Summit in Kathmandu recently.

“The NC is deeply concerned about the government’s indifference towards the implementation of federalism,” its release read. It stated that even after months, the government had not been able to end the staff crunch in lower tiers of government. It urged the government to form a National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission.

It added that Oli misused nationalism to win votes, but his government had failed to represent national interests at bilateral and multilateral fora.

NC also accused Oli’s government of institutionalising corruption. It cited the government’s preparation to award projects above Rs 50 billion without calling tenders. It sought high-level probe into the purchase of wide-body aircraft.

NC flayed the government for deteriorating law and order. It asked the government to probe gold smuggling and criticised it for failing to arrest those responsible for the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.