Ruling Congress Leaders in Nepal Oppose Ordinances and Bills

Kathmandu (Nepal): The KP Sharma Oli government in Nepal is facing hurdles over six ordinances and three bills. Leaders of the Nepali Congress, the largest coalition partner in the government, have openly opposed them. Even after a month, the ordinances have not been presented in Parliament. If they are not passed by both houses within the next 30 days, they will automatically be annulled. The Janata Samajbadi Party, which is supporting the government from the outside, has also decided not to back these ordinances, making it difficult for the government to secure a majority in the Upper House.

The ruling Nepali Congress is also opposing three bills, including one aimed at regulating social media, another related to the merger of security forces, and a bill concerning the Armed Police Force. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, a leader from the Nepali Congress, is part of the Oli government, but a significant faction of his party is now speaking against these bills.

Over the past two days, several senior Congress leaders have publicly criticized the government and these proposed legislations. Speaking at an event in Kathmandu today, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa accused the Oli government of acting arbitrarily in introducing bills. He warned that if Oli continues to take unilateral decisions, the Congress may reconsider its support. Thapa asserted that the bills related to social media and security forces cannot be passed without necessary amendments.

At another event in Pokhara today, senior Nepali Congress leader and former Foreign Minister NP Saud urged the government to abandon its overconfidence in a two-thirds majority. He claimed that the security forces-related bill was introduced under this false sense of power and should not be supported.

Similarly, senior Congress leader, former Deputy Prime Minister, and former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand stated in Bhairahawa on Sunday that the ruling coalition has deviated from its original purpose and is introducing controversial bills. He emphasized that the Nepali Congress is one of Nepal’s most significant parties and accused Oli of imposing his policies on the Congress.