NC leaders warn against totalitarianism

KATHMANDU, Nov 1: Arguing that the leftist parties are trying to derail political stability through their electoral alliance, senior Nepali Congress (NC) leaders have solicited votes for NC to ensure democratic stability and economic prosperity in the country.

Addressing a function organized at the party's headquarters in Sanepa to unveil the party's election manifesto, NC leaders also appealed to the people to stand in favor of the NC for economic prosperity with political stability. The leaders alleged that leftist parties were trying to impose communism in the country, challenging the democratic constitution promulgated after several years of struggles.

Speaking on the occasion, NC President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba claimed the left alliance forged by the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center) had posed serious threat to democracy as they seek to impose communist totalitarianism in the country. "The communist alliance is trying to undermine democracy. Democracy has given people all sorts of rights. But under communism people's right to protest against injustice is usurped. There is not even right to cry in communism when there is injustice," he said.

Arguing that NC had led all democratic movements in the country so far, Deuba said the party will now lead the country toward economic prosperity since political stability will come about with the effective implementation of the new constitution. "Rana oligarchy was removed in 1951, the one-party Panchayat system was removed, and we did away with the monarchy. Now, NC would lead the [journey toward] prosperity as well," said Deuba. "It is necessary to vote for NC also to safeguard democracy."

Speaking on the occasion, NC senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel alleged that leftist parties under the pretext of their electoral alliance are trying to undermine the existing political system and bring political instability to the country. "They are trying to halt economic prosperity," he said. "NC will not allow any kind of instability, communism and autocracy in the country. NC is committed to fighting against these challenges."

Also speaking on the occasion, NC General Secretary Shashank Koirala highlighted the need for the NC to go to election as a single bloc. "Since the leftist parties have united for the elections, NC also needs to go to election as one bloc," he said.

The poll manifesto, jointly unveiled by Deuba, senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel, General Secretary Koirala and Bal Krishna Khand, introduces the concept of an integrated Social Security Program (SSP) that guarantees state support for citizens from 'womb to tomb'. The manifesto prepared by a team led by Mahesh Acharya has given continuity to most of the programs introduced by NC since 1990, such as agricultural reform and tourism and hydropower development.

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