KATHMANDU, Dec 20: A key leader of Nepali Congress (NC) Gagan Thapa has blamed the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for the current political crisis in the country.
Addressing a mass protest organized by the party on Sunday afternoon following the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR) by the Prime Minister Oli earlier on Sunday morning, leader Thapa, who is also a Central Working Committee member of the party, accused the prime minister of violating the democratic norms and values. “Despite having the most favourable atmosphere in the recent democratic history of Nepal, PM Oli took a negative advantage of the people’s mandate.”
After wasting three valuable years without any noticeable performance, Prime Minister Oli eventually dissolved parliament, Thapa said. “Amid this deepening health crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic, the prime minister abused his power and staged a coup when he was expected to steer the country forward in collaboration with people from all sectors.”
Gagan Thapa challenges Deuba (video interview)
Leader Thapa argued that people have already started raising questions on the entire federal democratic republic system due to arrogance of the prime minister and internal row within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). He also said that the prime minister is not authorized to dissolve parliament as per the present constitution.
Thapa also blamed President Bidya Devi Bhandari for acting as one of the gang members of the Oli-led faction. “She is not only the witness of the ‘crime’ committed by the Prime Minister but also a partner of this coup,” he further said.
Thapa also came down heavily against NCP Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and another senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, arguing that they are also to be equally blamed for the current state of affairs. “When we repeatedly claimed that Oli was an unscrupulous politician, they [Dahal and Nepal] did not listen to us,” he said, adding that Dahal presented the allegations paper against Prime Minister Oli only after they had differences in the power-sharing deal. “Had they tabled a no-confidence motion against Oli, this day would not have come today.”