Cracks in Nepal's ruling party as PM Oli & party chief trade barbs amid anti-India map

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is facing anger of its citizens for its handling of Coronavirus pandemic and also for its "weak" foreign policy after country decided to incorporate Indian territories into its new political map, thus, weakening country's -old relations with India. 

w, reports suggest that all is t well withing ruling party as well after Executive Chairperson of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal lambasted government for its lacklustre performance during party's Standing Committee meeting which began earlier on Wednesday.

'One has to be objective while...'

According to a report in 'My Republica', in his speech at meeting, Dahal said that government has failed to live up to people's expectations in this difficult situation. He also accused KP Sharma Oli of violating "understanding" reached at party's top level in terms of power-sharing on rotational basis.

Oli defended government and said that his ministration is doing its best to serve national interests. He also said that ruling party leers mselves are acting as opposition party leers.

" government has been doing its best to contain COVID-19 pandemic while expediting development works across country. One has to be objective while criticizing government," Oli said. Oli also said that government is working to safeguard country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "We recently issued a new political and ministrative map of country. This was a historic task," Oli said.

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'You should t feel that...' 

Ar report said that during meeting, both Prime Minister K P Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ tred barbs. meeting of powerful 45-member body that was cancelled twice in past, finally took place Wednesday, after mounting pressure and accusations that Oli h hijacked party and government and was running it in an authoritarian way.

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Speaking at beginning of meeting — which will continue on Friday — Oli said even his good work, his efforts to establish socialism in country and his strong commitment towards nationalism were t being defended by party’s leers. “By humiliating me, you should t feel that your stature has gone up,” he told Prachanda. 

Earlier, Nepal has blamed India for rise of vel coronavirus cases in country, with country's PM KP Sharma Oli saying virus strain from India looked "more lethal" than those from China and Italy. 

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Nepal’s National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed Constitution Amendment Bill to update country's political and ministrative map incorporating three Indian territories. India has termed as untenable "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims by Nepal after its lower house of parliament on Saturday unanimously approved new political map of country featuring areas which India maintains belong to it.

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(With PTI inputs)