Deuba slams communist party-led govt's interventionist policy

Opposition Nepali Congress chief and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday accused the Communist party-led government of intervening in the academia and the media against the spirit of democratic norms and values.

Addressing the media in Mahendranagar in western Nepal, Deuba alleged that the government was hell-bent on meddling in various state organs instead of working to meet people's needs.

"Due to its interventionist policy, the government has failed to accomplish anything in one year," the former prime minister said.

Deuba claimed that the government had interfered in many sectors and worked against the spirit of democracy.

"Democracy will be strong only when the press is strong," he said, adding that the government was harassing the media and this was not acceptable to his party.

Deuba asked the government to hold talks with the Netra Bikram Chand-led Maoist faction and resolve the political issue in the country. "It is the government's responsibility to hold talks with the agitating outfit," he said.

He said situation of peace and security was not satisfactory in the country and accused the government of shielding the guilty in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl some nine months ago.

"The government failed to find the guilty even nine months after the incident, he noted.