KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh flayed the government for forcing popular folk singer Pashupati Sharma to remove his satirical song against corruption in the country from YouTube in parliament on Monday.

However, ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Jhapat Rawal came down heavily against the singer for using abusive words to criticize the government through the song.

The satirical song 'lutna sakay loot kanchha' by singer Sharma was trending on YouTube before, citing political pressure, he removed it from the cloud on Saturday evening, just two days after it was uploaded.

Speaking during the zero hour of the House, NC lawmaker Singh said the decision of the singer to remove the video song from YouTube after pressure and threat from Youth Federation Nepal (YFN), the youth wing of the ruling NCP shows dismal picture of shrinking space for democracy in the country.

“The song represents the voice of the people. But the government couldn't listen it. I have decided to give Rs 25,000 from my salary to the singer,” said Singh.

But ruling NCP lawmaker Jhapat Rawal came down against the song, accused the singer of using abusive language in the song and making allegations against the head of state. “The singer compared the country with America and Japan when NC's Sushil Koirala was Prime Minister in the country. Now he has incited to rob through the song. This has exposed the intention of the singer,” he said.

He also challenged NC's Singh that he would give his whole month salary if the NC lawmaker could sing the song in parliament.

In the question-answer session with Minister for Education, NC's Laxmi Pariyar also questioned the minister about the issue. In response Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel claimed that the government has never banned the song.

 
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