Dr Bhattarai advises Prime Minister Oli to resign

KATHMANDU, May 8: Janata Samajbadi Party leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has advised Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to resign on the moral grounds.

PM Oli came to a huge controversy last month after he pushed the ordinance related to Political Parties paving way for a party to split with support from only 40 percent vote from either central committee or parliamentary party and ordinance related to Constitution Council which allowed the Council to convene a meeting without requiring the presence of opposition parties.

Following strong reservations from both within and opposition parties, Oli dropped both ordinances five days later, but the move put his chairmanship and leadership into a serious risk.

Two days after the ordinances were approved by President Bidya Devi Bhandari, a “dirty” political drama became the center stage when Samajbadi Party lawmaker Dr. Surendra Yadav was “kidnapped” from Mohattari and brought to Kathmandu “at the direct order from Oli” in a “planned scheme” to split Upendra Yadav-led party which was also supported by six other lawmakers including Renu Yadav.

In reply, Samjbadi and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal announced a surprise merger at midnight which Rajendra Mahato described as a counter reply to foil Oli’s dirty scheme.

“The party splitting ordinance was a mistake. But I have read in reports that Oli told his meeting that he brought the ordinance to split a party, which raises a big moral question,” said Bhattarai while speaking during the first meeting of the budget session.

“Why would the ruling party’s lawmakers and former IGP bring the lawmakers to Kathmandu? The intention is clear to all.

“The police refused to register our kidnapping complaint. It’s not their fault because they were probably under pressure. Instead, the accused filed a complaint against the victim. Is this democracy?” he vented ire.

“The issue is very serious. I want to request the prime minister that if he has begun the process of self-realization and self-criticism about his own anti-constitutional steps, it will be appropriate that the prime minister should give rest to his ailing body and step down as prime minister on the moral ground to save the democracy, and his own face,” he advised.