NC leaders spoke against ordinance brought by the government

Many leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) have opposed the ordinance that the government brought on Sunday to offer amnesty to leaders and cadres of different political groups.

“The preparation to grant amnesty to a person convicted by the court is against the legal, parliamentary, political and democratic spirit,” NC leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala wrote on social media. “No one has the authority to temper with the law for political convenience. It would set a wrong precedence.”

Similarly, NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has called for immediate withdrawal of the ordinance, stating that the issue has not been discussed in the party. “There has neither been any discussion on the ordinance in the party nor has any decision been taken. Therefore, the stand of the party is the same as in the past,” he wrote on his social media page. “This ordinance is wrong from legal, political, and moral perspectives. It is unconstitutional and against the spirit of the parliamentary system. The government should immediately withdraw it.”

Likewise, another General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma said the ordinance will raise moral questions.

NC leader Pradeep Poudel also opposed the ordinance, stating that people won’t feel any difference if the old tendencies continue.

The government on Sunday had brought an ordinance to grant amnesty to the rebels, including the leader of Nagarik Unmukti Party’s founder leader Resham Chaudhary.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Baluwatar decided to bring an ordinance to grant amnesty to leader Chaudhary and other rebel inmates.

The government is going to provide amnesty to the rebels adding sub-section 9 to section 116 of the Civil Criminal Procedure Code, 2074.

After the ordinance is promulgated, the way will be opened for the release of all the accused in the Tikapur incident including Resham Chaudhary, who are in Dillibazar Jail.

Although the government sent the ordinance to the President, it is yet to be issued.

Chaudhary is serving a life term in connection to the August 2015 Tikapur carnage in which eight people, including a toddler, were killed.

In March 2019, the Kailali district court convicted Chaudhary of masterminding the incident.

Likewise, the Dipayal High court upheld the district court’s decision in December 2020.