Kathmandu, July 20
Some people’s representatives recently elected at the local level have accused the central government of snatching away rights provided to local governments by the constitution.
Speaking at an interaction organised in Lalitpur today, they said four bills recently tabled in Parliament for discussion are also against sentiments of the constitution.
Dhulikhel Municipality Mayor Ashok Byanju said directives issued by Secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, Dinesh Thapaliya, to the local leaders were also against the constitution.
He, therefore, appealed to people’s representatives to reject the directives.
“I have already told the Chief District Officer and the District Education Officer that they could not issue orders to us,” he said, “I have also told the Secretary not to be the interpreter of constitution.”
“It seems we need to launch an agitation,” he said, “This agitation will be legal, constitutional and pressurising.”
Likewise, Bhimsen Rural Municipality Chief Ishwar Pandey said government staff interfered in staff recruitment and budget planning of local levels.
Local governance expert Balananda Paudel, who had headed the Local Level Restructuring Commission, suggested lawmakers be told about rights and responsibilities of local government as the bills currently under discussion were faulty.
