KATHMANDU, April 11: The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) has stepped up its opposition to the government’s proposed move to ban student unions, framing the issue as a broader struggle over democratic space, youth representation and labour rights.
At a meeting of its Central Working Coordination Committee held at the party’s central office in Parisdanda on Saturday, the NCP concluded that student organisations must not be prohibited in schools and colleges. Party leaders argued that such a move would undermine long-standing democratic practices in Nepal’s academic institutions.
The protest comes in response to the government’s 100-point agenda, introduced by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)-led administration, which includes a provision to dissolve student unions. The proposal has already drawn criticism from multiple political actors, with the NCP now formally joining the chorus of dissent.
Chaos, united
NCP leaders have framed student unions as an integral part of Nepal’s political and civic culture, particularly in nurturing leadership and providing a platform for youth engagement. They argue that restricting these organisations would not only silence student voices but also weaken the broader ecosystem of democratic participation.
“Banning mass organisations—especially those representing students and youth in colleges—and restricting trade unions is fundamentally wrong,” said party leader Jagannath Khatiwada, outlining the meeting’s conclusions. “Such measures curtail the rights of the people and organised labour. We will stand firmly against them.”
The party has also linked the proposed ban to concerns over shrinking civic space, warning that curbs on student bodies could set a precedent for further restrictions on trade unions and other grassroots organisations.
While the government has yet to clarify how it plans to implement the provision, opposition from political parties and affiliated groups appears to be building. For the NCP, the issue goes beyond campus politics, touching on questions of constitutional rights and the future of participatory democracy in Nepal.
According to Khatiwada, the party will continue internal deliberations, with the next बैठक of the Central Working Coordination Committee scheduled for Baisakh 3, when further strategies and positions are expected to be made public.
