KATHMANDU, May 15: The main opposition Nepali Congress has strongly opposed the bill tabled by the government at the Parliament which has allowed the prime minister to mobilize the Nepal Army through individual decision.
A meeting of the party parliamentary of the Nepali Congress held at Singha Durbar urged the government to withdraw the bill.
In a press statement issued after the party parliamentary meeting, the NC has taken exception to clause 6(3) of the bill about work, duty and rights of National Security Council (NSC), that states NSC chairman can recommend to the government to deploy army if the NSC meeting cannot take place immediately.
Bill authorizing PM to mobilize army criticized
In its statement, the NC has quoted the 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 where 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’ and pointed that the bill violates the constitutional provision.
The NC has alleged that such a provision of mobilizing army through individual decision of the PM will undermine the NSC and Nepal Army.
In the statement, the NC has accused the government of trying to curtail the press freedom by drafting the draconian media law. The NC has also criticized the government for drafting the 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.
