Astalaxmi Shakya Accuses KP Oli of Repeatedly Insulting Women

Kathmandu. Astalaxmi Shakya, Vice-Chairperson of CPN (UML), stated that Oli, who has been the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic multiple times, repeatedly insults women.

Speaking at an interaction program among women leaders regarding the CPN (UML)'s 11th National General Convention on Tuesday, she said that the language Oli used concerning former President Bidya Devi Bhandari was inappropriate.

She stated, "Is this the respect our Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who has been the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic multiple times, shows to the former President, the nation's guardian, the constitution's protector, Bidya Devi Bhandari? What does 'Dhami-Jhakri'mean? Is it acceptable to insult like this?" She claimed that such an expression from the party leadership is an expression of a negative attitude towards women. "A behavior that demeans women is not becoming of the leadership," she said.

She further added, "If it's not allowed for an ordinary woman, then it's certainly not becoming of this leadership to insult a woman who was the former President. But who does it? Comrade KP does it. Because he lacks the thought process. He lacks the perspective to look at women. He repeatedly insults women."

Usha Kiran Timilsina, who has been continuously active as a UML central member for the past four years, questioned the fundamental right to expression and participation within the party.

She also leveled a serious accusation that Central Committee meetings have merely become a place for a few leaders to speak arbitrarily for hours. She said, "In the four years I've been a central member, the total time I've been allowed to speak within the party is just six minutes. Three minutes in one meeting and three minutes in another, across two meetings."

She stated that there should be no such situation where there is no space to speak within the party in a democracy and a republic, and it is necessary to bring about a change in this. 

She further added, "The democracy and republic we brought are not like that. Where is the space to speak within the party then? The Central Committee meeting has been used as a place for a few specific leaders to speak arbitrarily for hours. It is necessary to change this."

According to her, the authority to make decisions and determine the leadership is currently centralized only among a limited number of people. Permanent Committee members Dr. Binda Pandey, Sharmila Karki, Rachana Khadka, and other leaders also expressed their views at the program. 

They urged for a change in the UML's leadership through the General Convention and requested the party to move on a democratic path.