Congress MP Criticizes Rastriya Swatantra Party for Enrolling Minors as Members

Kathmandu. The main opposition party Nepali Congress has objected to the ruling party Rastriya Swatantra Party passing a proposal from its general convention to make children under 18 years of age party members, stating it is against the constitution. Congress MP Renuka Kaucha raised such an objection while speaking in the House of Representatives meeting on Sunday. 

Kaucha drew the attention of the government and the Election Commission, stating that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has been distributing party membership to children under 18 years of age, which is against the prevailing law. Citing statistics made public during the first general convention of the RSP, she recalled the Constitution of Nepal and the Political Parties Act, 2073 BS.

 ‘According to the law, children who have not reached 18 years of age cannot be made members of a political party. Doing so carries a fine of eighty thousand rupees and imprisonment for up to 3 years,’ she said, ‘Is the RSP above the constitution? Is it okay for them not to follow the law?’

MP Kaucha has questioned the legality of various office bearers and central members of the RSP who were elected by climbing the ‘ladder of votes’ of children. ‘The Children Act, 2075 BS clearly prohibits the use of children for political purposes,’ Kaucha said, ‘How can the executive committee, which stands on the foundation of those children made members against the law, be legal?’

She criticized that on one hand, students are not allowed to do politics and preparations are being made to abolish the Swabhyu and student organizations, but on the other hand, a party participating in the government is showing the tendency of making young students carry bags in their own party.

 ‘Is it appropriate for the government, which talks about keeping students away from politics, to line up children for membership in its own party?’ she said.