KATHMANDU, Jan 24: Rival factions of the ruling Nepal Communist Party led by KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal have been holding counter rallies against one another. 

After the Nepal-Dahal faction held a massive public gathering in the capital on Friday, the Oli -led camp is holding a similar mass assembly on February 5 to counter the Dahal-led faction. 

After the Dahal-Nepal faction started to show its “public strength” by organising programs across the country against the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the Oli-le faction is holding similar programs in coming weeks. 

According to the Oli-led faction, leaders and activists from all over the country will participate in the mass assembly to be organized by the Bagmati Province Committee. The Oli-led faction has instructed the party’s rank and file to participate in the mass assembly. 

But, the Bagmati Province Committee’s president Anand Pokharel claimed that they are not holding counter assemblies. “Our objective is to inform the general public. It can’t be interpreted as a counter assembly,” said Pokharel. 

According to him, the word "counter" should not be used as such meetings carry political significance. “We don't have to compete with others. If they are running away from elections, how can there be a counter? This is an ordinary public assembly,” said Pokharel. 

He further elaborated that the mass rally is being held to safeguard the constitution and country’s independence as well as give a message that the country can no longer continue to witness anarchy. Pokharel said that it is also a campaign to remove foreign troops from Nepali territories. 

“Basically, our movement is to protect the country’s political independence and remove foreign troops from Nepali territories. The constitution has to be defended. We have to go for elections to get a fresh mandate and eventually achieve political stability,” he further added. 

 
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