National Freedom Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato Criticizes Government's 100-Day Performance, Warns of Public Outrage

Kathmandu. National Freedom Party Nepal Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister Rajendra Mahato has expressed dissatisfaction with the government's 100-day performance, warning that the government must be corrected before the public's patience runs out.

Issuing a public statement, Mahato accused the government of continuing the old autocratic thinking rather than justice, inclusivity, and sensitivity. He urged the government to immediately correct its insensitive behavior, inclusivity in appointments, and authoritarian style of functioning.

According to Mahato, the recent mandate was not just for a change of government but an expression of decades of accumulated public dissatisfaction, pain, and desire for change. He commented that although all expectations could not be met in just 100 days, the government's direction showed the 'smell of old autocracy' rather than novelty.

He alleged that bulldozers are being used in poor settlements, harsh behavior is being meted out to ordinary people in border areas, and discrimination is being institutionalized in the name of meritocracy by ignoring proportional inclusivity. Furthermore, he claimed that the budget has encouraged intermediary capitalism, ignored the interests of farmers, youth, women, and provinces, and that the policy of imposing taxes on fundamental rights like education and health is anti-people.

Mahato cited the self-immolation of Ganesh Nepali as an example of the state's human insensitivity, accusing the government of being limited to legal procedures rather than humanity.

Regarding constitutional amendment, he claimed that efforts are being made to weaken federalism and recalled the Prime Minister's commitment to pay tribute to the martyr of the Madhesh movement, Ramesh Mahato, by saying 'Jai Madhesh' and building a 'strong federalism'. He questioned whether that commitment was merely an election promise.

Mahato emphasized that federalism is an achievement gained through the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs and should be further strengthened. He warned that if the public's trust is betrayed, there will be resistance, and stated that the historical demands of the Madhesi, Tharu, Limbuan, Magarat-Khass, Dalit, and Muslim communities must be addressed.

In the statement, the National Freedom Party Nepal reiterated its demands for state restructuring with 10 provinces and 24 autonomous regions, equitable distribution of central revenue, constitutional guarantee of equal opportunity, government services in provincial languages, proportional inclusivity, implementation of the February 14, 2064 (Bikram Sambat) 8-point agreement, withdrawal of cases against protestors, and public release of the Lal Commission report.

Mahato mentioned the need for a new national renaissance based on civilization, self-governance, and prosperity, and called upon all democratic, identity-based, and change-seeking forces to unite in a common campaign.