KATHMANDU, Jan 15: CPN-UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has emphasized that the government must work in the best interest of its own citizens rather than act like a “puppet” government that follows foreign directives.
Speaking at the 42nd memorial day of Martyr Piskar and the launch of the book “Struggles Behind Bars” by Sares Nepal in Kathmandu on Thursday, Oli criticized the current style of governance, claiming it undermines national sovereignty.
“Nepal must have a government of the Nepali people. It cannot have a puppet government that obeys foreign orders,” Oli said, arguing that forces are deliberately trying to demoralize those standing for the Nepali identity and nationalism and to suppress the call for a truly Nepali-led government.
‘Puppet Theater Workshop’ begins
He alleged that all branches of the state – legislature, executive, and judiciary – are being used to break the morale of those demanding Nepali-led governance.
Oli accused the current authorities of systematically destroying the national economy to make Nepal fully dependent on external powers. He opined that this has led to conditions that force local businesses and entrepreneurs to leave the country.
He also criticized the use of law and legal institutions to serve political interests rather than justice. He cited the recent decision by the Attorney General’s Office in the cooperative case involving Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Ravi Lamichhane as an example of what he called political bias.
“In the first place, the government files cases without any reason and then it withdraws the cases to make someone a ‘hero’ in the elections. Why? To create confusion, to allow looting of property, and to make laws and regulations irrelevant,” Oli said, hinting at the Office of Attorney General’s decision to withdraw money laundering and organized crime cases in cooperative scam filed against Lamichhane.
He further claimed that such activities increase impunity and give foreign powers opportunities to interfere in Nepal.
During the program, he also condemned the disrespectful treatment of Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, calling it the height of anarchy.