Kathmandu, May 28
Former Vice-President Paramananda Jha has boycotted the event that the KP Sharma Oli government had organised at the Nepal Army parade ground on Saturday to mark the Republic Day.
Clad in the national dress, the former VP had arrived at the parade ground to take part in the event. After scanning the venue for a while, he returned, venting ire at the authorities for not designating a seat for him. Vice-President Jha accused the government of humiliating him.
Officials in attendance had tried to make him return, but in vain. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Speaker Onsari Gharti and other dignitaries attended the event.
This boycott from a high official could not have come at a worse time. Demanding constitutional amendments to address its demands, the Federal Alliance comprising United Democratic Madheshi Front and Janajati parties is organising a series of protests.
Though the popularly-elected Constituent Assembly promulgated a federal republican constitution with an overwhelming majority, the charter has failed to appease Madheshi and Janajati parties, fuelling unrest, especially in the southern plains bordering India.
Not so long ago, UDMF’s border-centric movement and the Indian blockade had caused a severe supply of essentials, hitting hardest the victims of last year’s mega quakes that left behind a trail of death and devastation.
What do you think of the boycott? You think the government indeed humiliated former VP Jha? Or you think VP Jha should not have boycotted the event? Feel free to comment.
