In a fiery address to the House of Representatives on Monday, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chair of the main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre), came down heavily on the government for failing to uphold inclusive policies and delaying key appointments.

Dahal’s speech kicked off deliberations on the government’s policies and programmes unveiled by President Ramchandra Paudel on May 2.

The former prime minister accused the KP Sharma Oli-led administration of discarding important initiatives introduced by his government, particularly those aimed at uplifting Dalits, women, and marginalised communities.

After forging a seven-point agreement with the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML chair Oli became prime minister in mid-July last year replacing Dahal.

Dahal, as the leader of the main opposition party, had earlier addressed the House twice since the formation of the Oli government. Prime Minister Oli, who was absent both times when Dahal addressed Parliament, was present while the Maoist leader addressed the House on Monday.

Dahal spent most of his around 35-minute speech criticising the government for removing “important plans and programmes” introduced by his government.

“What kind of a prosperous Nepal are we envisioning by excluding Dalits?” Dahal questioned.

He claimed that his government had launched some “historic” programmes to bring meaningful changes to the lives of Dalits, women, working-class people, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised and neglected communities.

“I had urged in Parliament that the programmes related to Dalits, women, the injured, and the disabled, brought by the earlier government, should not be torn apart,” Dahal said. “But now, even their titles have been erased.”

Last year's policies and programmes were prepared by the Dahal-led government, when Barshaman Pun, deputy general secretary of his party, was finance minister and UML was the major ruling partner.

Dahal claimed that the Oli government has highlighted its own failure by not being able even to appoint the central bank governor even after a month since the crucial post went vacant. Maha Prasad Adhikari retired as Nepal Rastra Bank governor on April 4 after completing his five-year tenure.

“Even after a month, you have not been able to appoint a governor. As far as I can see, the arrogance of the two-thirds majority of the government [in Parliament] has already burst like a balloon,” Dahal said. “Every appointment and decision seems to be heavily influenced by vested interest groups.”

Meanwhile, Chitra Bahadur KC, the only lawmaker from the Rastriya Janamorcha, also criticised the government for not mentioning any programmes for Dalits in the policies and programmes.

However, Chandra Bahadur Bishwakarma, a UML lawmaker representing the Dalit community, dismissed Dahal’s comments as merely “ritualistic”.

But Bishwakarma noted that the government could have done better in addressing the problems faced by the Dalits.

“The policies and programmes were brought in the midst of an adverse economic situation, but had it included concrete measures to address the problems faced by the marganilised community, the opposition would not have gotten any chance to question it,” Bishwakarma said.

Dahal also claimed that even the lawmakers of the ruling parties are reluctant to appreciate the policies and programmes brought by the Oli government. He was hinting at the major ruling coalition partner the Nepali Congress.

However, lawmaker Jeevan Pariyar, a joint general secretary of the Congress, dismissed Dahal’s claim.

“The situation is not exactly like what Dahal mentioned,” Pariyar told the Post.

However, during the parliamentary party meeting of Congress on May 3, some leaders criticised the “UML-dominated” policies and programmes.

Dahal also lambasted the government for sacking Kulman Ghising as the managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority.