The main opposition Nepali Congress has lashed out at the Bill on Work, Responsibility and Rights of National Security Council that was registered at Parliament last week, saying that the proposed legislation is against the democratic norms and the spirit of the constitution.

The party has warned the government against moving towards the direction that is detrimental to the democratic constitution.

A special meeting of the party concluded on Sunday that the bill infringes upon the authority of the Security Council vested by the constitution. The party said the bill’s provision of vesting the absolute power in the prime minister to recommend deployment of the Army is objectionable.  According to Article 267(6) of the constitution, the President shall, on the recommendation of the National Security Council and pursuant to a decision of the government of Nepal, Council of Ministers, declare the mobilisation of the Nepal Army in cases where a grave emergency arises in regard to the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Nepal or the security of any part thereof, by war, external aggression, armed rebellion or extreme economic disarray. A declaration of the mobilisation of the Army must be ratified by the House of Representatives within one month after the date of such declaration.”

“It is the responsibility of the state to seek solution to any kind of problems arising in the country from within the constitution. But it’s a grave matter for the state to present a bill against the provision and spirit of the constitution citing some specific cases,” read a statement published on the party’s official website. Stating the proposed law has raised some serious questions, the Nepali Congress said government’s recent moves indicated its intent to become authoritarian. The party said the constitution has given enough power to the prime minister to run the country with a strong leadership.

“It is hard to imagine a crisis situation whereby the Security Council won’t be able meet. The imagination of such a situation for taking the decision to deploy the state army without the participation of Nepal Army leadership is a highly sensitive issue,” the statement read. The Nepali Congress said it will object to the endorsement of the bill without any amendment.