PM Deuba under siege within an ordinance

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba under siege from his own party leaders as well as the opposition over the ordinance his cabinet has submitted to the President for ratification as part of the deal to secure support of the Nagarik Unmukti Party.

The ordinance expressly aims to nullify the judicial indictment of Resham Chaudhary, Chairman of the NUP, and free him from jail. Choudhary, in return, will extend support of his three members of Parliament, so that the coalition led by Deuba secures absolute majority in a House of 275.

Objecting to the promulgation of the ordinance, senior Congress leader Shekhar Koirala said such an act not only undermines the principle of democracy and rule of law but condoning the act of crime or nullifying conviction to secure political favour is also against the spirit of the constitution, he said.

Along with Koirala, Party’s two General secretaries–Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Gagan Thapa have also warned Deuba against bringing out such an ordinance. Many in the social media have asked President Bidhya Devi Bhandari not to put a seal of approval on it.

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Under secretary General Bishnu Rimal and former Communication Minister Gokul Baskota have said Deuba’s act grossly undermined democratic values and principles. Similarly, Rabi Lamichhane-RSP’s Chair- terming the act as apogee of political shamelessness stated that the ordinance has breached the new mandate.

Former Supreme court Justice Prakash Wasti warned that the ordinance that Deuba government is trying to bring for his ‘immediate gain’ would inflict severe damage on the credibility of the state for a long time to come.