Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed his party lawmakers to strongly defend the government policy in the Parliament.

During a parliamentary party meeting of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Monday, PM Oli, who also co-chairs the party, has asked the lawmakers to defend the government’s stance on issues including tabling of National Medical Education Bill, Dr Govinda KC’s hunger strike and stopping vice chancellor of Sanskrit University from flying abroad.

Government has registered the National Medical Education Bill to replace the Medical Education Ordinance altering its major provisions to allow establishment of new medical colleges in Kathmandu valley despite objections from senior orthopedic surgeon Dr KC. Dr KC has been staging fast-unto-death in Jumla against changes in the ordinance.

Similarly, vice chancellor at Sanskrit University Prof Dr Kul Prasad Koiralawas returned from the airport while he was about to fly to Canada.

A press note issued by Prime Minister’s Office stated the government had done nothing wrong and lawmakers should strongly defend it against the opposition.

Oli said it wouldn’t be practical to bar opening of new medical colleges in Kathmandu Valley for 10 years and to stop a university from granting affiliation to more than five medical colleges. He also said vice chancellor Koirala was stopped at the airport because he did not take permission from the ministry before travelling abroad.

He added there were multiple complaints filed against vice chancellor Koirala and they will be investigated in a fair manner. He also said the decision to revoke political appointments by erstwhile Sher Bahadur Deuba government was to keep institutions free from ‘political pollution’.