OFF THE RECORD (Spotlight Weekly)

‘We Oppose The Amendment Bill’

— Ishwor Pokharel

ISHWOR POKHAREL, a politburo of CPN-UML and an MP representing Kathmandu-3 constituency, is one of the emerging leaders of the main opposition party. Pokharel spoke to SPOTLIGHT on issues surrounding the controversies related to the Citizenship Act 1961 (First Amendment). Excerpts:

Why did CPN-UML oppose the bill to amend the Citizenship Act during the second time in the House of Representatives?

After the rejection by Upper House, we requested the ruling party to put the bill on hold to pave way for further debates and discussions. As the Congress government did not listen to us, we decided to boycott the House.

Your party has history of obstructing House proceedings whenever the ruling party tries to bully. Why didn't your party do the same this time and simply decided to walk out of the parliament?

When ruling party was so determined to pass the bill, there was no use of our opposing only.

Two years ago your party broke the rostrum and chairs of Parliament when then government tabled the local self governance bill for final approval. But strangely this time you merely stayed out of House?

Our boycott of the proceedings of the House of Representatives was also a part of our opposition. It is the ruling party which is responsible. They should have withdrawn the bill.

Is it not double standard when a party which had stalled the House for five days on general issues allowed the government to pass a sensitive bill so easily?

I told you that we are very much concerned about some of the controversial provisions of the amendment bill. We oppose it.

Difficult Ride

After massive misuse of foreign donated vehicles by the politicians and bureaucrats, the donor agencies are now finding out new strategies to stop the misuse. They have started to print the purpose of donated vehicles in the local language. Whether this will reduce the misuse of foreign donated vehicles remains to be seen but it is quite certain that politicians may have difficult time to ride the new vehicles again for personal use.

Garbage Blues

Being the capital city Kathmandu has some unique characteristics. When the population of the valley was small, garbage used to be dumped at the river banks which would be flushed out by the monsoon rain. Now the population of the valley has swollen to one million plus, once again river bank is being used to dump the garbage. After Bagmati river is filled with garbage which will be the next place to dump? No problem there are three other major rivers in the valley that can be used for the purpose.

Class In House

School students are gradually losing interest to watch the proceedings of House of Representatives. The gallery allocated to the students remain half empty. In the last two weeks, young school children could not find anything of interest in the House of Representatives since it was deadlocked again and again. Like the MPs, students cannot stay when there is no interesting working.

Deuba's Double Face

Nepalese politicians are unpredictable. In the list of such unpredictable politicians, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba figures prominently. Just a few days earlier, Deuba accused Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala as dictator, insensitive, rude and so on. Next morning, however, he issued another statement saying that Koirala is dedicated, charming and sensitive. It may be natural for Deuba to shift his stand twice in 24 hours but it is strange for him to justify his reverse opinions. But Deuba is not an exception in a crowd of Nepalese politicians where some even change their stand as fast as twice in an hour.

Blame It On Press

CPN-UML leader K.P. Sharma Oli is a leader of uncertain behavior. Unlike Congress leader Deuba, Oli is capable to defend his changing stand by blaming others for distorting his stand. Oli who hailed citizenship amendment bill in the House of Representatives last month said it was a progressive bill. Suddenly, he changed his language and argued the bill as reactionary. Oli defended his later stand saying that his earlier stand was distorted by the press.