The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has taken exception to government’s move to advertise the social security scheme that was brought a few days back as if it was the government’s brainchild programme.

At a press conference organised in the Capital on Sunday, NC spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma claimed that the Social Security Act 2074 was endorsed during NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s tenure as Prime Minister. He alleged the incumbent government of misleading the people.

Terming the process of implementing the Social Security Act 2074 as positive and delightful step, Sharma said that the publicity stunt was needless and ostentatious.

“NC believe that the implementation of the Social Security Act-2017, which was tabled in the Parliament on July 24, 2017 during the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government and certified by the President on August 13, 2017 will make important contribution in the life of Nepali workers,” read a proposal endorsed by a meeting of the NC Central Working Committee on Sunday. “The NC, however, said that its serious attention has been drawn to the jacket advertisements featuring a gigantic picture of the Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman KP Sharma Oli in most of the newspapers so as to mislead the people that the scheme was the government’s pet’s project.”

Saying that the social security scheme will only be implemented with active role of the government, employers and workers, Sharma said the NC will extend necessary support and also keep a watchful eye on the government’s role.

Meanwhile, the NC concluded that the government’s involvement as an organiser of the Asia Pacific Summit being held in Kathmandu by controversial South Korea-based non-government organisation, excessive use of state funds, and resources are against the spirit of constitution.

Over a dozen newspapers, online news outlets, floating street banners and billboard posts were splashed with the prime minister’s image on November 27 announcing the social security scheme. The media campaign, which was millions of rupees according to marketing analyst, drew condemnation from several quarters.

Critics said the advertisements appeared to give credit for the single largest reform in the labour industry to the incumbent government instead of informing the public about the benefits and procedures of the scheme, even though the programme had been approved before the Oli administration came to power.

An official at the Prime Minister’s Office said the entire advertising campaign cost around Rs120 million, which included design and production charges.