KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Dr Prakash Saran Mahat, leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress has criticized the Oli-led government for talking big and working less.

Prime Minister and Nepali Communist Party Chair K P Sharma Oli is celebrating his one-year at office today. He during a televised address on Thursday claimed that the government remained largely successful dubbing the one-year period as “foundation year”.  He argued that the years ahead would see the years of achievements.

However the Oli-government has been widely criticized by the opposition NC and other political parties for failing to bring economic development, prosperity, control corruption, misrule and inconsistent economic and foreign policies.

“The government has boasted its one year period as successful. Actually, they are successful in big talks but has worked too little,” said Dr Mahat speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Friday.

“Their slogan ‘Prosperous Nepal: Happy Nepali’ is good. But No nepali people are happy with the incumbent government’s activities, neither the country has gained development and prosperity,” he added.

“The government has failed to control price hike and reduce trade deficit. The foreign direct investment is sliding not domestic investments are increasing. The interest rate at banks is high and the government’s inconsistent economic policy has created mess in NEPSE.”

“People are not getting rich. But the ruling party leaders have definitely generated big money,” he fumed.

He also slammed the government for failing to check corruption.

“Oli government declared zero tolerance to corruption. But he has not been able to take actions action against the individuals accused in the misappropriations of Rs 4.35 billion in procurement of two wide-body aircraft,” he said.

“Budi Gandai Hydroelectricity project should have been built in domestic investment. But the government awarded it to Chinese company, Gezhouba, whose credibility is already in question.”

Dr Mahat also said that the government is unsuccessful in its foreign policy. “Why should the government have to criticize the United States (US) move to recognize the Juan Guaidó as the leader of the country? Nepal has a positive diplomatic relation with the US. But the NCP press statement has done nothing but worsen the bilateral relation with the US.”

“Why did the prime minister direct the withdrawal from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) level military exercise?”

He also criticized the government scheme to provide unemployment allowance.

“In fact, the unemployment scheme has been brought not for the people but for the party cadres. It is in fact a cadre allowance scheme,” he said.

He also slammed government for bringing law to curtail freedom of expression by introducing harsh punishment for posting “improper” contents on social networking sites

NEPALGUNJ, Sept 9: Nepali Congress joint general secretary Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has pledged to reform the party’s managerial aspect so as to make the party organization dynamic. He said that the party could not go ahead traditionally.

“People are still with the Congress,” he said, adding that the party faced defeats in the recent elections as it failed to realize the need of reaching out to the voters differently. “It could not make the people understand its works and future plans. That was our fault.”
The former minister accused the government of not showing democratic characters.

KATHMANDU, Aug 10: Nepali Congress leader Dr Prakash Saran Mahat has accused the government of failing to maintain peace and security. He further blamed the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) led government of heading toward totalitarianism.

“The Oli led government has completely failed because it has ignored the current problems the people are facing every day. The incidents of rape and kidnapping are increasing. But the ruling party NCP, instead of being serious toward the problems, seems oriented toward running the government in arrogance of two-third majority it commands in the House,” fumed Mahat while taking to Rishi Dhamala at a radio program ‘Nepali Bahas’.

Referring to an incident of alleged abduction and murder of an 11-year old child, Nishan Khadka, four days ago, he said that such “tragic and terrifying incident” would not have happened if the government had taken it seriously. The kidnappers, Gopal Tamang, 22, of Nuwakot and Ajaya Tamang, 23, of Sindhupalchowk district were encountered by the police in a jungle near Pilot Baba Asram on Tuesday.

“The incidents of rape are also increasing day by day.”

“The government has failed to maintain peace and security in the country,” he added.

When asked what the main opposition NC is doing, Mahat said that the party is currently focused on reviving its internal strength. He also said that NC is also putting its efforts to stop the government from imposing autocracy.

“The party Mahasamiti meeting is being held in Bhadra (Aug/Sept). The internal disputes is no longer holding the party back. The party cadres are also suggesting the leadership to move ahead in integrity,” he said. REPORTERS CLUB

KATHMANDU, Dec 21: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr Prakash Saran Mahat has said that the President Bidya Devi Bhandari should immediately approve the ordinance on the National Assembly Election arguing that holding the ordinance could create constitutional complexions.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal in capital on Thursday, Mahat said, “Multiple transferable voting was proposed, only since it was an easier method.”

“CPN (Maoist center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal has sought consensus among the parties over the ordinance but CPN-UML Chair Oli is not showing any flexibility,” he added.

“It is wrong that the UML is accusing NC of provisioning single transferable votes after seeing the result of local level elections.”

“President cannot hold the ordinance. She should immediately approve the ordinance,” he furthered adding, “The more the President holds the ordinance, the more constitutional complexities it creates.”

“We will step down only after electing National Assembly because NC cannot cross constitutional line,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Oct 1: Dr Prakash Saran Mahat, central member of Nepali Congress, has clarified that the party has not yet decided to pitch party president Sher Bahadur Deuba as the post-election PM for the post-election federal government.

“In fact, the party yet to decide who to pitch as post-election prime minister in the upcoming election campaigns,” said Dr Mahat while talking to Rishi Dhamala at a radio program ‘Nepali Bahas’ on Sunday.

“As the party president and the current prime minister, the party is expected to select Deuba as post-election PM in our federal election campaign, but we are looking for other party members’ opinion in this matter,” he added.

When asked if NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel would agree on the matter, Mahat said, “We haven’t consulted with Poudel yet. But the party will select a candidate in agreement.” He also said that the party will soon for a parliamentary board to decide on this matter.

“The board members will present their opinion and some strong bases first. Then the party will decide who should be given the ticket.”

“It is important to make sure that people will vote Nepali Congress in the election,” he added.

He also said that there is greater possibility that NC will forge electoral alliance in the upcoming elections.

KATHMANDU, July 24: Nepali Congress central committee member Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that the cabinet would be expanded soon after the conclusion of ongoing central committee meeting of the party.

“Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is busy in central committee meeting as it was necessary to hold discussion on contemporary issues including review of the two round of local-level election,” said Dr Mahat to RSS.

“PM Deuba has completed all the internal homework for cabinet expansion. He has made final preparation to expand the cabinet inducting new ministers from the NC as well as other parties soon after the conclusion of the ongoing central committee meeting,” he added.

NC leader Mahat clarified that any internal disputes and other disputes are not the reasons behind delay in cabinet expansion. RSS