Deposed Prime Minister and Chair of Communist Party of Nepal (UML) K.P. Sharma Oli appearing for the first time in public after the Gen Z movement, made remarks mostly directing against the Sushila Karki led caretaker government and also claimed that his party would rise again to steer the country.
Oli claimed that ”the stronger the Communist Party grows, the more robust nationalism will become.” He made sarcastic remarks against India without naming the southern neighbour.
“When we promulgated the Constitution in 2015, some elements didn’t like that, as we took stance which invited sharp reactions,” he recalled.
“When we have reached an agreement (with China) to convert the land-locked country into a land-linked one, many couldn’t digest that. Many didn’t like our efforts to stand on our own by opening up connectivity by joining North with South,” pointed out former Premier Oli.
“Some couldn’t take it easy when we tried to protect our border and made sovereign claim on our own territory,” he maintained.
“Big trees standing on roadside don’t get hurt by stones thrown to it, it is smaller trees that get hurt,” said Oli in a sarcastic way. ”But even after facing so many blows, our party can withstand, I don’t know from where its strength comes?”
UML chair for the first time after three months of the tragic incident that saw killing of 77 people, expressed condolences to those killed – the youths, security personnel and the general public in his inaugural message to the 11th general convention of the party at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur district.
He demanded action against those responsible for the destruction during September’s Gen Z movement, in which government buildings, private and public properties as well as party offices and houses of political party leaders were damaged. The Gen Z protesters, are however, demanding action against PM Oli and then Home Minister of Nepali Congress Ramesh Lekhak, whom they find responsible for the excessive use of fore to suppress the movement.
Oli criticized the current government for engaging in biased and unconstitutional practices instead of fostering election-friendly environment.
Oli also claimed that, “UML working to maintain social harmony and national unity has successfully foiled the attempts to disintegrate the society and divide the people.” “We don’t pursue violence and war as the means to change the society, as we believe in peaceful transformation,” he said.
“We were never against the issues raised by the youhts such as controlling corruption, maintaining good governance and freeing social media sites,” he claimed. The Gen Z youths launched the movement in September mainly to protest against ban in social media, bring about good governance and to end corruption.
“We will not run away from the March 5 elections,” Oli said, but expressed belief that the Supreme Court will reinstate the House of Representatives.
The 11th general convention of the UML that kicked off at Bhaktapur on Saturday will witness closed – door sessions at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu on Sunday and Monday. During the convention around 2,260 general convention representatives will choose the party’s leader. Oli is contesting the party’s election aiming to capture chair of the party for the third consecutive term. However, former senior vice president of the party Ishwor Pokharel backed by former president Bidya Devi Bhandari, is giving him a tough fight.
Pokharel has publicly said that PM Oli should not escape from the moral responsibility of the September 8 suppression of Gen Z movement through excessive use of power and he should obey if the probe commission invites him for explanation. However, Oli has already rejected the possibility of giving any explanation to the probe commission regarding suppression in the Gen Z movement.
