Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has criticised the government move to push through the Medical Education Bill in an “authoritarian” manner. He said the House Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara misused the power of his post to endorse the National Medical Education Bill despite protest from the opposition.

 “The post of House Speaker should be neutral. But Mahara misused the power of his post,” said Deuba. He added Mahara moved ahead with the endorsement process without first consulting the opposition parties.

“The Oli government unilaterally passed the bill in a communist style against the agreement reached with Dr Govinda KC in the past,” said Deuba, accusing the government of imposing the power of two-thirds majority by ignoring the voice of opposition that goes against the democratic values.

Deuba also took exception to the government move to dissolve two medical colleges being established in the name of late veteran Congress leaders. “This communist government is trying to erase the name of Nepali Congress leaders,” he said, adding that NC would never settle with the government decision that refused to bring the two hospitals established in the name of NC leaders under federal government.

The Medical Education Bill was endorsed by the parliament today with a majority amidst protest from Nepali Congress lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress youth leader Gagan Thapa also came down heavily upon the government, saying that the government will face consequence for its unilateral move in endorsing the Medial Education Bill. “Whatever happened at the parliament today was unfortunate,” said the leader.

Both Deuba and Thapa warned that the party would resort to stern protests from the parliament to street against the government’s move.