Nation-wide protest rallies against HoR dissolution; senior leaders involve in blame-game

Kathmandu / Dec. 29: The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Prachanda-Nepal faction has staged a nation-wide protest today against the government’s action of dissolving of the House of Representatives (HoR).

The central committee of the NCP Prachanda-Nepal group convened on December 22, 23 and 24 had decided to launch protest programmes against the government’s move to dissolve the HoR.

Participating in today’s protest rally were the top-ranking leaders of NCP Prachanda-Nepal group such as Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Madhav Kumar Nepal, senior leader Jhalanath Khanal among others apart from the cadres belonging to Prachanda-Nepal group.

The protest rally that started from Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu turned into an assembly in the same place where it started after taking a tour of Shahid Dhoka, Bir Hospital area, Ratna Park, Bagbazar and Putalisadak.
Dahal, Nepal, and Khanal are addressing the rally.

A faction of the NCP has been protesting the government move of dissolution of the HoR on 20 December. The disgruntled faction has formed a 2,501 member struggle committee in coordination of NCP Spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha to launch protest programmes.

Oli’s move to dissolve parliament is aimed at sabotaging hard-earned federalism, republicanism: Dahal

Chairperson of the rival faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Pushpa Kamal Dahal, on Tuesday said that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent move to dissolve the House of Representatives (HoR) is aimed at killing federalism and republicanism which were achieved after decades of struggle by the people.

Addressing a protest rally organized by his faction in Kathmandu, Dahal came down heavily upon Oli for dissolving parliament and announcing midterm elections all of a sudden. “The act of dissolving parliament is totally unconstitutional. It has taken the country toward another round of political instability,” Dahal said.

Appealing to one and all to stand together against Oli’s move, Dahal also regretted the dissolution of parliament so early. “We did not even imagine that we would be forced to take to the streets against Oli’s regressive move. Now, we have to fight collectively against this move,” he said.

“People had given us [NCP] the mandate to ensure political stability with social justice so that we could move toward achieving a socialism-oriented system. Unfortunately, Oli’s abrupt decision to dissolve parliament without holding any discussion in the party has only invited political chaos,” he said.

Dahal said that Oli had attacked the constitution and republicanism that were achieved after a great struggle.

“I had personally taken initiatives for a merger between the two communist parties and approached Oli for the same. At that time, he agreed to accept federalism, secularism and republicanism although I was well aware of his political ideology and the fact that he was against federalism and republicanism. Eventually, we decided to merge and launch a new political party. But, he started to work against the spirit, ideology, principle and norms of a communist party,” Dahal said.

Dahal also said that Oli eventually turned autocratic, imposed hegemony in the party and even did not bother to consult other leaders before blatantly dissolving parliament. “Oli’s tyranny will not last long because the people will firmly protest against his recent political move,” he said.

Dahal said it was not parliament but the Oli-led government that had actually been dissolved for its wrong political move.

“Unless KP Oli laments his wrong political move, people will not pardon him,” he grumbled.

Dahal expressed hope that parliament will be reinstated through the Supreme Court’s verdict. “I have faith in the court. I hope that the Supreme Court will honor the emotions of the people. I cannot even imagine that the apex court will go against the wish of the people,” he said.

Dahal also shared that Oli had made several efforts time and again to split the ruling NCP but had failed in the past one year even as the country was battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At a time when the people were reeling under the COVID-19 pandemic, Oli was hatching conspiracies to split the party. How cruel is he?” the chairperson asked.

The agitation will not stop unless the regressive move taken by Oli is neutralized, he claimed. “We are against Oli’s counter-revolutionary move,” Dahal said. The people should stand together against Oli’s move, he added.

He also expressed doubt that the midterm election will take place on the stipulated dates.

“After April next year, Oli won’t remain as the prime minister and he will be finished off politically as well,” he argued.

The Dahal-Nepal faction of the ruling NCP staged a nationwide protest on Tuesday against the dissolution of parliament.