News Summary
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- Congress President Gagan Thapa has advised the government not to be misled by the illusion of a majority and to work within the rule of law.
- Thapa expressed serious disagreement with the manipulation that occurred in the Constitutional Council meeting on behalf of Congress.
- Protesting against the government’s harsh treatment of homeless people, Congress has urged the government to protect the dignity and respect of its citizens.
April 6, Kathmandu – Gagan Thapa, president of the main opposition party Nepali Congress, has expressed serious objections to the recent actions of the government and has advised moving forward within the framework of law.
While training party MPs on their roles in Parliament on Wednesday, Thapa spoke openly with reporters afterward, critically raising three main issues concerning the government.
The three concerns he raised are as follows—
1. The government’s illusion of a majority
The fundamental basis of democracy is the rule of law. No one is above the law, not even those who make it. However, the current government has displayed a great misconception. I had said the same when KP Oli was prime minister—that having a two-thirds majority does not mean you can do whatever you want; this misconception will bring you down.
The present government must understand this as well. Having a majority entitles you to make laws, but what kind of laws you make and how they are applied is crucial, and the government has not paid sufficient attention to this.
2. Manipulation in the Constitutional Council
Regarding ordinances, Congress has a clear position—not that ordinances should never be introduced, but the intention behind them matters. Dozens of ordinances issued by the President will soon come before Parliament. Our MPs need to examine each ordinance for constitutional compliance and its impact on citizens’ rights.
Our greatest disagreement lies with the functioning of the Constitutional Council. The constitution established this council to protect it from unilateral government control, but since 2020, every prime minister has made manipulative changes.
The Constitutional Council will meet tomorrow, where one party has set criteria for appointing the Chief Justice and passed manipulative laws to promote their nominee. Though only three members including the Prime Minister, Speaker, and Law Minister are involved, a majority decision is possible, which we find objectionable. In the past, we have prevented such moves and Congress continues to strongly oppose this.
3. The state’s cruel treatment of homeless people
The constitution and laws clearly call for alternative arrangements for landless Dalits and homeless populations. Managing genuinely homeless people living on riverbanks is the state’s responsibility. If someone is illegitimate, legal action should be taken, and Congress agrees with that.
After hours of discussion on the ninth amendment to the land bill, 95 percent progress was made. However, the current government has dissolved the Land Commission without implementing the law and formed a new committee.
The most distressing aspect is the state’s extreme cruelty. On Buddha Purnima, monasteries and schools were demolished, and persons with disabilities, postpartum mothers, and the poor were mistreated as if they were criminals. Police may use force to remove those sleeping on sidewalks but do not allow them to be stripped naked and chased on the street. This ‘bulldozer terror’ and the government’s character contradict our constitution.
We are not seeking political votes from these people; they are citizens whose dignity and respect must be protected by the government.
We support the government’s diplomatic efforts regarding Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh and some good governance initiatives. But where fundamental issues are wrong, Congress stands firmly. In 2017, even when we were small, Congress performed its role as opposition and will continue fulfilling its responsible opposition role now.
We support some of the government’s recent good governance efforts. I have reminded colleagues that when the then UML had the forced two-thirds government in 2017, Congress was still a small party but performed its duty as opposition in Parliament and continues to do so today.
Since homeless communities remain stigmatized, we have formed a committee led by General Secretary Pradeep Paudel and sent teams to assist where needed.
We want to clearly state that while we will not involve homeless populations in vote politics, it is our responsibility to safeguard their respect and rights as citizens.
Protecting citizens’ dignity and respect is the state’s duty, and those violating the law must be punished.
