KATHMANDU, MAY 26
CPN-UML Chair and main opposition leader KP Sharma Oli today spoke for three hours from the rostrum of the House of Representatives to denounce government's policies and programmes and its handling of foreign affairs.
He condemned the government for allowing the United States' Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya, to visit monasteries.
"This government is helpless before foreign dignitaries because it fears losing power.
Why can we not be honest about our relations with our neighbours?" Oli wondered.
He said the government was not sensitive towards Nepal's relations with China.
During Zeya's visit to Nepal, she had also visited a Tibetan refugee camp. China often condemns western diplomats for meeting Tibetan refugees or religious figures.
Oli claims that since he had taken permission from Humla chief district officer to visit an area there, a foreign diplomat must also seek permission for visiting places in Nepal. Oli refuted one leader's claim that he had 20 to 40 billion rupees in his bank account.
"If I have that much amount in my account, I am ready to transfer it to the account of the same leader," he said. He added that he and his wife had announced that all their moveable and immovable property would be state's property. "Can any leader, particularly the former prime minister who often takes swipe at me, declare that they would give all their moveable and immoveable property to the state?" he added.
Oli also assailed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for not accepting eminent persons group's report on Nepal-India relations. He said the PM should accept the report and tell citizens what it contained.
He accused the Deuba government of using unfair means to influence local polls. He said Nepali Congress leaders had said if NC representatives did not win in particular places, the federal government would not allocate budget for those places. He said the government did not say anything new in its policies and programmes.
"This document is devoid of any plan to increase domestic production, to control trade deficit, and to help form capital."
A version of this article appears in the print on May 27, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
