PM Oli has disgraced republic using the phrase ‘mero government’: Jhakri (With video)
KATHMANDU, May 5: Nepali Communist Party (NCP) leader Ram Kumar Jhakri has expressed dissatisfaction over the repeated choice of the phrase ‘my government’ (mero sarkar) by President Bidya Devi Bhandari while presenting the government’s policies and programs for the fiscal year 2019/20 on Friday.
The use of the phrase ‘my government’ by President Bhandari dragged the head of the state into controversy as the use of the word faced wide criticism within the ruling party and among oppositions since it was contrary to the past practice of using the word ‘this government’.
The main opposition party Nepali Congress registered an amendment seeking replacement of the word ‘my government’ saying it was objectionable.
NCP leader Jhakri argued that the cabinet committed mistake putting the phrase ‘mero government’ in the document presented by the president.
“The cabinet did a big mistake using the phrase,” said Jhakri talking to Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala in a television show Janata Janna Chahanchan.
“President is not a person but an organization. President should keep its dignity. The president should not have used the word “mero government” during the presentation,” she said.
“It is not the president’s fault. But it is the prime minister who allowed the use of such controversial phrase .”
“The prime minister has dishonored the republic,” she added.
However, following the criticism over the matter, Prime Minister Oli on Saturday defended the President saying the phrase was used as per the international practice and was not an issue of public debate. The PM also condemned the media for failing to understand the international practice.
Jhakri also said that the policies and programs was good but was not satisfactory.
Also talking to Dhamala, NC leader Dr. Govinda Pokharel said that the policies and programs did not even deserve criticism as they lacked the vision to achieve good governance, development and prosperity.