All except Oli faction against dissolution of parliament

KATHMANDU, Jan 11: After Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli abruptly dissolved parliament on December 20, the entire country, except Oli and his faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), stood against the move. Major political parties of the country, civil society, former chief justices, civic leaders, legal practitioners, indegenous groups and all professionals of the country stand against the dissolution of parliament.

After Oli dissolved parliament, his party saw a vertical split. While one faction led by Oli is in power, the other led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal has launched street struggles. Similarly, civil society leaders Devendra Raj Pandey and Krishna Pahadi have stated that the dissolution of parliament has invited regression. In a joint statement issued on Sunday, Pandey and Pahadi claimed that Prime Minister Oli had become a tool for regression.

“The character of Sher Bahadur Deuba, the president of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, which claims to be a legacy of democratic values, has become a matter of further concern. Let the major political parties apologize for the mistakes they have made in the past to end the growing disappointment among the people,” the statement read. “We also call on the political forces inside and outside parliament to unite to ensure good governance and pave the way for the development of a capable, strong democratic system and overall development of the country with a commitment not to repeat such mistakes in the future.”

Pandey and Pahadi said that the sudden dissolution of parliament and the increasing turmoil of regression have worried all bonafide citizens who are in favor of democracy, peace and prosperity. “The dissolution of the House of Representatives, which was done arbitrarily to address the internal grievances of a single party, is non-political, unconstitutional, and is against the aspirations of the people and against the interest of the country.”

They said, “We call for the restoration of parliament by rectifying this wrongdoing.”

Civil society leaders are carrying out constructive and creative agitation against Oli's constitutional coup in various places including Maitighar Mandala.

The NCP Dahal-Nepal faction, which has been leading a separate agitation by keeping the Oli faction aloof, has announced a nationwide agitation. Nepali Congress, Janata Samajbadi Party and other parties are also protesting against the Prime Minister’s unconstitutional move. These parties are conducting protest programs in different parts of the country.

While the political parties are organizing protest programs, they are also interacting with civil society leaders and taking suggestions. In addition, the parties have interacted formally with the parties in and outside the parliament and have also intensified discussions on the joint movement.

Former vice chairman of the National Planning Commission Dinesh Chandra Devkota, Senior Advocate Harihar Dahal, civil society leader Krishna Pahadi, former chief commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Surya Nath Upadhyay, human rights activist Mohna Ansari, former governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, former chief secretary Lila Mani Poudel, editors and writers have also participated in the agitation.

While civil society leaders were protesting across the country, four former chief justices of the Supreme Court also issued a joint statement saying the dissolution of parliament was unconstitutional.

Across the country, civil society leaders and political parties have been agitating separately against the dissolution of parliament. Citizens of different levels and castes in the small groups have also taken the movement forward. The Dahal-Nepal faction has taken the agitation programs to the rural municipality level. The Nepali Congress is also staging protests at the rural municipality and municipal levels.

Former speaker Daman Nath Dhungana, who is also a civil society leader, said that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is a puppet of regression.