Gagan Thapa Criticizes Prime Minister for Undermining Parliament

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa voiced his dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alleging that the government was undermining the authority of the parliament.

Speaking during a discussion on the Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts, 2023 in the parliament, Thapa raised concerns about the government’s approach. He urged the prime minister to address these concerns more constructively and emphasized that a parliamentary majority should not silence opposing voices. Thapa staunchly asserted that any effort to diminish the role of lawmakers was unacceptable.

Thapa also expressed reservations about the involvement of the law minister from his party, Nepali Congress, in politicizing criminal activities. Criticizing the Bill, he contended that it seemed designed to safeguard influential individuals implicated in serious crimes. He stressed that certain provisions in the Bill aimed at shielding those involved in grave offenses were not supported by the Nepali Congress. Thapa vehemently opposed the intertwining of politics with criminal actions and condemned the criminalization of politics.

Additionally, Thapa addressed Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Dhanraj Gurung, urging him not to bear the weight of the bill’s implications as it was formulated by a government that took office after the 2017 elections.