Former PM Prachanda Claims Government Actions Threaten Democracy

Surkhet: Coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the current government, arrogant with its two-thirds majority, is moving forward to restrict citizens' rights. He stated that the government's actions pose a challenge to the survival of the democratic system.

Arriving in Surkhet for cadre training, Prachanda held a press conference in Birendranagar on Sunday morning and commented that the government's activities are not democratic. According to Prachanda, the government mocked democracy by stopping the parliament session, which it had called itself, the very next day to bring an ordinance. 

"The current government has done something that has never been practiced before in Nepal's context," he said. "You all know that intellectuals and ordinary Nepalis believe this has mocked democracy."

He opined that issues like the dissolution of trade unions and the ban on student organizations show that the government is not on a democratic path. He said his party would support the government's democratic actions and warn against anti-people activities. Prachanda stated that from bringing the ordinance to everything else, Balen Shah's intentions do not look good.

He mentioned that it is not possible to support the government's activities that go against citizens' rights. "We are ready to constructively support the government's good deeds," he said. "We will keep warning the government to strengthen democracy and protect the constitution."

He also shared that in the changing situation, proposals had come from Congress and UML to form coalition provincial governments, but his party refused. He said his party is not currently in favor of changing provincial governments, but he has proposed that if all parties come together to form a shared government, his party would agree.

"Proposals are coming from UML in some places and Congress in others to form provincial governments together," he said. "As the coordinator of our party, I have rejected this. Instead, I have said that if Congress, UML, and Madhesh-based parties come together to form a shared government, we will agree."