CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel Criticizes Current Government's Actions

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has accused the current government's activities of posing a serious challenge to the country's independence, parliamentary system, and democratic future. Speaking at a program to hand over responsibilities of the publicity and publication department held at the party's central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur on Monday, Pokharel made such a statement.

Although political instability was expected to end after the elections, he said that the government's style of work has created further doubt and suspicion among the public. He commented that the Prime Minister has not been able to firmly advocate for the country's independence and national interest. Pokharel argued that instead of addressing the dissatisfaction of the locals regarding land that has been in the possession of Nepalis for years, the government has sided with the neighbor.

He said, 'The Prime Minister, who should be advocating for the country, has started advocating less for the country and more for the neighbor. He considered the disputes at the public level as the main problem. Whereas, due to insufficient advocacy during the scientific demarcation, the locals are dissatisfied about how land that has been used by the Nepali people for years has fallen towards India. When the government instead started advocating for a narrative as if Nepal has encroached on the neighbor's land, it has increased suspicion about issues other than the welfare and security of the citizens.'

Similarly, Pokharel stated that the move to unilaterally abolish the political appointments made by the previous government has attacked the spirit of the parliamentary system. He said that the current government has ignored the democratic principle that the government is an institution of continuous succession.

Pokharel said, 'Where did the idea of abolishing all past political appointments come from? If the understanding that the government is an institution of continuous succession and this is a parliamentary system had been there, such an idea would not have arisen. He seems to be trying to fit the practice of the American presidential system into our parliamentary system. This is a path that does not match Nepal's governance system and will ultimately lead to disaster.'

He mentioned that the new method of appointment and selection adopted by the government has no guarantee of yielding favorable results, and public statements within the ruling coalition parties like 'those who cooperate with RSP will get one more mark' raise questions about the adherence to the system. He clarified that UML is always ready to further strengthen the federal democratic republic, but any activity that weakens the system itself will not be acceptable to them.

At the same program, General Secretary Pokharel admitted that with the rapid development of information technology, the party's publicity style has become defensive. He said that while UML was effective in publicity work in the past, it has fallen behind somewhat in recent days. He pointed out that the party's workers are only users of technology but have not become sufficiently skilled in this field.

Pokharel said, 'Earlier we were effective in publicity work, but recently we have become a bit defensive. The participation of the new generation that can skillfully use information technology is relatively less with us. We are only users, we do not have the necessary skills. Whoever is skilled, is more effective.'

He emphasized the need to bridge the gap seen in content creation and the maximum utilization of popular digital platforms. He stated that if capable youths are not engaged in publicity work or if they do not acquire the skills themselves, the publicity work will not be effective.

At the program, General Secretary Pokharel handed over the charge to the newly appointed chief of the publicity and publication department, Niraj Acharya, and instructed him to move forward with new strategies in the coming days, including a review of the past.