Nepal PM under fire from unified Oppn

Opposition parties in Nepal have announced a fresh set of protest programmes against the Baburam Bhattarai-led ruling Maoist-Madhesi coalition on Saturday.

Updated on: Nov 10, 2012, 23:42:02 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Opposition parties in Nepal have announced a fresh set of protest programmes against the Baburam Bhattarai-led ruling Maoist-Madhesi coalition on Saturday.

Fifteen parties including Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) released a list of month-long protest programmes beginning November 17.

The development could further prolong the ongoing constitutional and political crisis in the country.

“There’s no chance of fresh election till the present government is in place. Therefore we request all democratic forces to join hands in forming a national unity government as per provisions of the interim constitution to hold fresh elections,” said a statement issued by 15 opposition parties.

The objectives of the protests include removal of the present government, constitution of a national unity government and holding of polls in April-May 2013 to elect a new constituent assembly-cum-parliament.

Passing of the budget through consensus by the next government, appointment to senior posts lying vacant in constitutional bodies and upholding independence of constitutional institutions are the other objectives announced by the opposition parties.

The protest programmes will include holding of mass meetings and rallies against the government to be held in Kathmandu and all districts across the country till December 14.

Saturday’s development comes after failure by opposition parties to dislodge the ruling Maoist-Madhesi coalition following dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May and no consensus emerging on resolving the constitutional and political crisis arising out of it.

Opposition parties led by NC and CPN (UML) have been demanding removal of the government and constitution of a national unity government comprising all parties---a move the ruling coalition has opposed.

There are also differences among parties on who should head the next government, when the next elections should be held and other issues like announcement of a full budget.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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