KATHMANDU, Jan 31: The main opposition, Nepali Congress raised concerns over the KP Sharma Oli led government's steps to subdue democracy by boasting a two-third majority. Following opposition of Nepali Congress, the parliament has been adjourned until February 3.
It also made the government aware of how efforts to foil democratic practices had toppled regimes in Nepal -- from the Panchayat to the downfall of Gyanendra Shah.
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"We've seen how governments have collapsed when they've tried to suppress democratic practices systems," parliamentarian Minendra Rijal said. He added that the government was heading to a self-destructive path because it was awestruck by the fact that it had a two-thirds majority.
Rijal drew a parallel on the fight of Dr. Govinda KC and democracy and said that saving the medical crusader also meant safeguarding democracy, its values, and systems. Dr. KC is on his 23rd day of his 16th fast-unto-death urging the government to fulfill the agreement it had reached in the 15th strike.
Stating that the Speaker was important to safeguard democracy, Rijal urged Krishna Bahadur Mahara to rise above his political party while working as the Speaker. "The Speaker must be independent and help to address voices of both the government and the opposition," he said.
The opposition also urged the government to use its majority to serve the people and that Nepali Congress was ever-willing to support such initiatives of the government. "However, the government is misreading 'majority' as 'pride and the ability do anything'," Rijal said and urged the government not to overstep democratic practices.
Rijal also scorned the government's inability to nab the culprit of Nirmala Panta's rape and murder and said that it was rather involved to block pornographic websites in hopes to deter rapists.
