Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda Faces Backlash over Controversial Remarks on Indian Businessman's Role

KATHMANDU: In a recent turn of events, Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has come under fire for making controversial remarks regarding an Indian businessman's alleged efforts to influence his position at the country's top political post. The statement, made during a book launch event, has ignited a political storm within the Himalayan nation, with opposition parties calling for the prime minister's resignation.

During the book launch for "Roads to the Valley: The Legacy of Sardar Pritam Singh in Nepal," Prachanda stated that the Indian businessman, Sardar Pritam Singh, had actively worked towards securing his position as prime minister. He claimed that Singh had traveled to Delhi multiple times and held talks with political leaders in Kathmandu to advance his cause. Additionally, Prachanda acknowledged Singh's contribution to strengthening Nepal-India relations.

The main opposition party, the Communist Party of Nepal-(Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), disrupted a National Assembly meeting, insisting on the prime minister's resignation. The opposition party's chairman, KP Sharma Oli, emphasized that they sought the prime minister's resignation rather than a mere clarification. Former Prime Minister Oli expressed concerns about the implications of Prachanda's remarks, stating that they undermined national independence, dignity, the constitution, and the parliament itself.

In response to the opposition's demands, the ruling parties also expressed dissatisfaction with Prachanda's statement. Bishwa Prakash Sharma, a member of the ruling party, criticized the prime minister's remarks and deemed them inappropriate.

The controversy surrounding Prachanda's statement has led to the postponement of parliamentary meetings as opposition parties, including the UML, the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, voiced their protests. Opposition members shouted slogans questioning the legitimacy of a prime minister appointed by New Delhi.

Attempting to clarify his controversial remarks, Prime Minister Prachanda stated that his words had been misinterpreted and caused undue uproar. He claimed that his statement about Sardar Pritam Singh had been quoted from the book itself, emphasizing that Singh's involvement extended beyond social service and transportation to politics, where he had lobbied with parties in both Delhi and Nepal.

However, criticism of Prachanda's choice of words persists. Ganesh Shah, CPN-Maoist Centre secretary, highlighted the need for cautious and diplomatic language when discussing sensitive issues such as potential external intervention in Nepal's internal politics.

The repercussions of Prachanda's remarks are twofold. Firstly, they have generated a political storm within Nepal, prompting demands for the prime minister's resignation. Secondly, they have highlighted the recurring issue of imprudent statements by Nepal's top leaders concerning sensitive matters like geopolitics and bilateral relations.

As a consequence of the controversy, valuable time in parliamentary sessions has been wasted, delaying discussions on crucial national issues. The need for responsible and diplomatic language remains paramount to prevent further disruptions and ensure productive political discourse in Nepal.

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