KATHMANDU: Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ the leader of the main opposition party and Chairman of the Maoist Center, has sharply criticized the government, highlighting several key issues.
In his speech as leader of the opposition on Thursday in the House of Representatives, he accused the government, led by CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, of being authoritarian. He specifically condemned the government’s stance on the social media bill, calling it an example of autocratic thinking.
Dahal pointed to the case of Ashika Tamang, a self-proclaimed social activist, who was handcuffed and paraded through Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. He also denounced the government’s treatment of Pathibhara locals, accusing them of being oppressed, including being shot at, during the construction of a cable car project there.
Dahal expressed concern, stating, “When the current government coalition was forming, I warned from this platform about the possibility of a regression towards autocracy. Today, those fears have been confirmed. Political vendettas and the abuse of state power are now commonplace.”
He raised alarms about what he views as an attack on free speech, noting, “An effort is underway to suppress and restrict free expression. In situations that could be resolved through dialogue, citizens are being handcuffed and moved from district to district.”
Referring to the Ashika incident, Dahal questioned, “Are these strong actions being taken out of government arrogance, or is it out of fear of the people?”
He also criticized the shooting of individuals during the Pathibhara cable car dispute. Acknowledging the sensitivity of both the Pathibhara and Mukkumlung conflicts, he questioned why the government opted for repression instead of dialogue and understanding.
Furthermore, he criticized the government’s authoritarian approach, claiming that it was undemocratic to arrest and prosecute citizens simply for wearing T-shirts with someone’s image or for questioning public services. He also condemned the social media regulation bill, calling it a move to control freedom of expression and the press through legal means.
“What is this?” he questioned. “Are you above the people? Are you above the Constitution? Are you the masters while the citizens are the slaves?”
