UML to hold mass demonstration on November 22 in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, November 14 — The leading party of the government, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), has announced plans to organize a public show of strength on November 22, with the aim of addressing the increasing lawlessness in the country. The party intends to send a message of social harmony, national unity, and political stability to the general public.

The UML will hold a public demonstration under the banner of a "Jagaran Sabha" (Awakening Assembly) to mobilize its members in response to the growing disorder in society. The party's leaders have said that around 100,000 of its leaders and workers will take to the streets for the event in the Kathmandu Valley.

The Awareness Assembly will take place at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, where the party plans to mobilize its entire party structure from all three districts in the Valley. Prime Minister and UML President KP Sharma Oli, along with General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, are expected to address the gathering.

To ensure the event is grand and well-organized, the UML has mobilized various sister organizations and forums, according to Rajan Bhattarai, the UML's Bagmati Province Committee in-charge. An 11-member organizing committee has already been formed, with Kailash Dhungel as the co-chair and other members including Tuka Hamal, Prem Kumar Parajuli, Shyam Kumar Basnet, Dipak Niraula, Bachan Deuja, Purushottam Acharya, Kshitiz Thebe, Samik Badal, and Janak Chaudhary.

While the opposition parties, including the main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre), have been critical of the government's actions and have been conducting their own protests, the UML is also planning its own demonstration in response.

The Maoist Centre had previously organized a warning assembly in Kathmandu on October 26, while it has also announced plans to hold similar gatherings in all 753 municipalities across the country. Similarly, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has been staging protests since October 19, accusing the government of political vendetta in the cooperative case and the unjust detention of its leader, Ravi Lamichhane.

As the opposition parties continue to criticize the government on issues like corruption and governance, it seems that the streets are becoming the primary platform for political expression. The UML's Awareness Assembly aims to counter the opposition's narrative by demonstrating its strength and reinforcing its commitment to the current system and governance.

After the Kathmandu event, the UML plans to hold similar Awareness Assembly across the country, according to Bhattarai.

Interview with Kailash Dhungel, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee:

1. Is this a public awakening or a display of power? 

This gathering is intended to raise awareness about the need to establish good governance, peace, stability, and rule of law. We want to send a message that the country should not move towards lawlessness and chaos, but rather advance through the existing democratic system, the constitution, and the current political structure. The aim is to make people aware that political parties are committed to reforming and improving the system, rather than abandoning it.

2. UML is part of the government, so how will people interpret your street protest? 

Just because a party is in power does not mean it cannot listen to the people's concerns. We believe it is important to keep the public informed about the good work being done by the government and the ideas we are advancing for the country's future. We are taking this opportunity to reach out to the people and continue the political dialogue.

3. The responsibility of maintaining law and order lies with the government. Opposition parties have also been holding protests against the government. Doesn't the UML's move to hold a power demonstration now seem contradictory? 

This is not about a power display. We are using this event to raise awareness on critical issues, such as the spread of political violence, social unrest, and the risk of communal riots. We want to make it clear that these trends are harmful to the country. Our message is that the proper course of action is to strengthen and improve the existing constitution and political system, not undermine it.

4. Will this message only reach people in Kathmandu, or will it be taken across the country? 

After the event in Kathmandu, we will take similar events to other parts of the country. Our goal is to inform the public about what the government is doing right, and to ensure that people understand the government's policies and actions in a peaceful and legal manner.

5. With both the ruling and opposition parties now taking to the streets, is there a risk of clashes in the future? 

Going to the streets does not necessarily mean seeking confrontation. It is a basic democratic right for political parties, both in power and in opposition, to express their views and communicate with the public peacefully. Street protests are an essential part of democracy, and they should be conducted in a peaceful manner to ensure that everyone's voice is heard.