The Nepali Congress (NC) has questioned the commitment of the Nepal Communist Party-led government to democracy, saying that the KP Oli government has been acting against the spirit of the constitution ever since coming to power.

A political document, prepared by the NC ahead of its Mahasamiti meeting, accuses the Oli-government of obstructing the implementation of federalism as envisioned by the constitution, squelching public protests and curtailing freedom of experssion.

The incumbent government with its two-thirds majority is giving the impression of an oppressive regime where citizens’ rights to free speech and inquiry are suppressed, the document states. It has also criticised the government for suppressing the protests demanding justice for 13-year-old Nirmala Pant who was murdered after rape in Kanchanpur on July 26.

Despite having a strong government at the centre and enjoying a positive political environment, the NC has concluded that Prime Minister Oli has failed to lead the country and to ensure good governance.  

The criticism from the Congress party comes amid renewed pressure on Oli including from top leaders in his own party.

The prime minister came under fire from all quarters, especially for the government’s decision to support the Asian Pacific Summit organised by the controversial Christian cult organisation, Universal Peace Federation.

Deployment of the entire state mechanisms for a religious programme and the prime minister staying at a hotel by disregarding his post have exposed the government’s character and lack of direction, the NC political document mentions.

The NC has said that the core objective of the unity of the two communist parties— the then CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist)—was to capture the state and the government. “After the elections, two communist parties were merged and now attempts are underway to supress and persecute democratic values and their advocates,” the document reads.

Talking about the role of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), the document states that the NC has no common ground with the RPP’s ideology of reinstating monarchy and Hindu state.

The document also states that the Madhes-based parties are not democratic-friendly, as some of the pro-ethnic, extremist issues raised by them are not in consonance with the spirit of nationality, federalism and democratic values.

Hailing the party’s special ties with the people from Tarai-Madhes starting from the people’s movement of 1950, the NC has said that the party accords high respect

to the people from Madhes for their contributions during various political movements to safeguard nationality, sovereignty and national integrity.