Debate heats up over credit for Sinja Civilization Bill

Kathmandu, November 1 — Tensions have escalated between leaders of the CPN (Maoist Center) and the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) over a bill concerning the Sinja region of Jumla, known as a center of the Khas language and culture.

On October 20, former Prime Minister and Maoist Center Chairman Pushpakamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, visited the Kanakasundari area in Sijnja. During the visit, he expressed pride in initiating the legislative process for the Sinja civilization and establishment of academy through his cabinet.

"I had supported the Sinja civilization and establishment of academy when I was Prime Minister for the second time. When I began my third term, I feel proud to have initiated the legislative process for Sinja. I want to draw the attention of the relevant parties to finalize this and complete the enactment of the law," Prachanda stated at an event in Sinja.

In response, Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi, the chief whip of the RPP and an elected MP from Jumla, objected to Prachanda’s remarks, claiming credit for the Sinja civilization bill. Speaking at an event in Gothijyula on October 26 during the RPP's Karnali tour, Shahi accused Prachanda of spreading "white lies" regarding the bill.

"Prachanda claims to have brought the Sinja civilization bill. I want to ask him, if you did, why didn't you present it in Parliament? Why make such claims when you come to Sinja?" Shahi questioned.

Shahi claimed that the Sinja bill was developed in collaboration with Naresh Bhandari, a former minister from the Maoist party. He argued that since Bhandari was the provincial law minister at the time, they had worked together on the bill. He insisted that the bill should have been registered in the provincial assembly but was not.

"Bhandari was the law minister of Karnali, and Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, his party leader, was the Chief Minister. If the bill had been passed then, everything would have been clear," Shahi stated, calling the current claims mere stunts to gain votes from the people of Sinja.

Maoist leaders, including Bhandari and federal MP Chiring Lhamu Lama (Tamang), expressed their objections to Shahi's remarks. Lama criticized Shahi for claiming authorship of the Sinja civilization bill, suggesting he should be embarrassed for not understanding its significance. She accused him of spreading "white lies" not just about the Sinja bill, but on various political matters.

Lama asserted that the government led by Prachanda had advanced the Sijnja bill, but it was stalled after KP Oli's government took power. "Gyanendra Shahi has been spreading white lies about the Sinja bill and other issues. The bill was initiated by Naresh Bhandari, and Prachanda's government presented it in the cabinet. When the Oli government formed, it was halted," she expressed her anger towards Shahi.

She warned against misleading the public, stating, "It is not possible to deceive the people indefinitely."

She also criticised Shahi for allegedly belittling her for being an MP under proportional representation system. 

Former minister Bhandari directly challenged Shahi’s claims, accusing him of spreading falsehoods about the Sinja civilization bill and other issues. He expressed concern over Shahi's untruths regarding the bill, emphasizing that such misleading statements could not cover up Shahi’s poor performance in Jumla.

Bhandari objected to Shahi's assertion that he too had written the Sinja civilization bill, stating that Prachanda had played a significant role in providing theoretical approval from the Ministry of Finance, ensuring legal consent from the Ministry of Law, and receiving cabinet approval.

"Bhandari claimed he registered the bill on September 25, 2021, as a non-governmental bill at the provincial assembly secretariat. Prior to the registration, he sent it for suggestions to Shahi and other MPs, whom he accused of turning this into a political stunt," he clarified.

Bhandari explained further, "The initial draft of the bill was prepared with the help of advocate Ratnabahadur Budha. I was the one who registered it at the secretariat. The bill was sent for discussion in the committee. The MPs from UML did not support advancing it. Ultimately, the provincial assembly became inactive, and the bill could not move forward."

Bhandari claimed that Shahi had no role in drafting the bill. He asserted that making claims far from the truth and reacting based on falsehoods serves only as a momentary self-deception.