KATHMANDU, May 16: The main opposition Nepali Congress has strongly opposed the bill tabled by the government at the parliament which proposes allowing the prime minister to mobilize the Nepal Army at his discretion.
A parliamentary party meeting of the Nepali Congress held at Singha Durbar on Wednesday urged the government to withdraw the controversial bill.
NC opposes bill that allows prime minister to mobilize Nepal Ar...
In a press statement issued after the NC's parliamentary party meeting, the NC said it has taken strong exception to clause 6 (3) of the bill regarding the work, duty and rights of the National Security Council (NSC) that gives the NSC chairman the discretionary power to recommend to the government to deploy army if the NSC meeting cannot take place immediately.
In its statement, the NC has quoted Article 267(6) of the Constitution that says 'the President shall, on recommendation of the National Security Council and pursuant to a decision of the Government of Nepal, Council of Ministers, declare the mobilization of the Nepal Army in cases a grave emergency arises in regard to the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Nepal or the security of any part thereof, by war, external aggression, armed rebellion or extreme economic disarray'. The NC argued that the bill contradicts the constitutional provision.
The NC has alleged that such a provision of mobilizing the army at the discretion of the PM will undermine the NSC and Nepal Army.
In the statement, the NC has accused the government of trying to curtail press freedom by drafting a draconian media law. The NC has also criticized the government for drafting a controversial human rights law. It has accused the government of trying to curtail the fundamental human rights and freedom by drafting the new law on human rights commission.
