Kathmandu, December 26
Nepali Congress senior leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, considered the chieftan of third faction within the party, has criticised the government for failing to deliver development to the people.
Sitaula, in an interview with Onlinekhabar, also rebuked his party leadership for not raising its voice against the government and not criticising its inability to meet the expectations of the people. “Oli ji [Prime Minister Oli] could have done so many things. But he hasn’t,” said the former Home Minister adding that the failure of the opposition to make its presence felt in Parliament has made it easier for the government.
Sitaula said that it was up to the central government to protect the political rights of the people and achieve rapid economic growth. “I believe that the NCP itself does not have leaders who can speak up to the Prime Minister and the ministers. It is not ok to bootlick all the time,” he said.
The Nepali Congress leader alleged that the NCP leaders thought they could get away with anything after securing a two-third majority. That was the reason, civil servants did not feel they were respected, he added.
On the Nirmala Pant murder case, Sitaula said that it was wrong on the part of the Prime Minister to talk to the media about the issue without understanding the nuances of the case. “The Prime Minister, in an interview said that Nirmala’s body was taken to the Mayor’s house. But they never took the body there.” He added that police mishandled the case from the start and the Home Ministry did nothing about it.
Sitaula said that if the government continues on it current path, the word ‘communist’ itself will become a curse after four years when the country heads to elections. “The government’s failure will instigate forces who are against peace, democracy and prosperity,” he said. “We might reach a point where Nepali will lose their right to self-decision.”
Sitaula confirmed that the issue of religion found its way into the discussions at the party’s recently concluded jamboree. He said that he was concerned that such a debate might have started in other parties as well. The NC leader criticised the government for agreeing to host the Unification Church’s programme in Nepal. The programme added fuel to the fire and agitated hardline Hindus, he said.
