By Our Correspondent
Pokhara, Nov. 23: Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday accused that India had made public its new political map incorporating Lipulek and Kalapani in it after making consultation with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Speaking at a by-election mass meeting at Pokhara, Deuba said that the Oli brand of nationalism had genuflected before India on the issue of Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani.
‘In the name of nationalism, the communist party made the people fool during the previous election. Now, the Oli brand of nationalism had come down to its knee in Kalapani. The incident showed clearly that Oli is not a nationalist leader,’ he accused.
The main opposition party president repeatedly said the Indian side had published new map after consulting with Oli.
“India can’t make public the map without having a consultation with Oli. Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani are Nepal’s territory.”
“The treaty with India clearly mentions that the areas from the Mahakali East belonged to Nepal. We have the rights of ownership over the half the amount of water of the Mahakali River as well,” Deuba said.
Stating that nationalism over Kalapani is nothing but an eyewash, he said this government was not a nationalist one but is one that is ready to kneel down before India on serious national issues.
Deuba accused the government of promoting corruption and increasing unnecessary amount of taxes.
He also rapped the government over the Constitutional Council. ‘Not only that the government is trying to render the Constitutional Council into the then Royal (Shahi) Commission but also is trying to make the Council as its puppet body,’ he said.
Deuba urged the Kaski Federal Constituency number-2 voters to exhibit their discontent against the present government by casting their votes against the ruling party candidate.
‘Though this election will not help form a government, it should be made an occasion to give message that the present government is getting increasingly unpopular,’ he said.
Deuba said the incumbent government was creating more troubles to industrialists, businessmen and hotel entrepreneurs by increasing unnecessary taxes.
‘The Pokhareli people should give a message through this by-election that an unnecessary increase of tax is a wrong step on the party of this government,’ Deuba called.
He urged voters to do justice to NC candidate Khem Raj Paudel as his party had done justice to the septuagenarian leader by fielding his candidacy.
NC senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel said that the communist party that had betrayed the people would never be the people’s party.
NC General Secretary Dr. Shashanka Koirala accused the communist government of trying to push the country towards civil was as Venezuela and Rwanda stating that the present government was not interested in country, people, democracy, constitution, federalism, republicanism and inclusiveness.
NC leader Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said the communist government was trying to loot state coffers which the NC had set up.
NC leader Gagan Thapa, Kaski Federal Constituency-2 candidate Khem Raj Paudel, Bindu Kumar Thapa, Kumar Khadka and others urged voters to cast their vote for the NC candidate.