KATHMANDU: CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has stated that a political leader must be capable of guiding their party with ideology.
Speaking at the launch event of the book “KP Sharma Oli: Dreams, Struggles, and Resolutions in Kathmandu on Monday, Pokharel emphasized that a leader without ideology is merely a technical figure.
“KP Sharma Oli is a leader with a strong ideological foundation,” he said. “Even during the Jhapa Rebellion, he opposed human killings.”
Pokharel claimed that Oli played a crucial role in drafting Madan Bhandari’s People’s Multiparty Democracy (Jana Bahudaliya Janabad) and demonstrated that patience and perseverance could establish ideological beliefs in politics.
The Jhapa Rebellion of 1969 was inspired by the Naxalite movement in India’s West Bengal, where communist revolutionaries launched an armed struggle. Nepali communists adopted a similar approach, launching a class enemy elimination campaign in Jhapa.
During this movement, several civilians were executed under accusations of being feudal landlords. Oli has often been linked to the killing of Dharma Dhakal and others, with allegations that he planned and orchestrated the events. However, Pokharel argued that Oli never supported human killings.
In retaliation, the Panchayat government executed several communist leaders, including Ramnath Dahal, Netra Ghimire, Biren Rajbanshi, and Ratna Kumar Bantawa. This chapter in Nepal’s history is known as the Jhapa Incident.
Pokharel praised Oli’s vision, calling him the architect of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali” and a skilled statesman.
“KP Oli is not just a successful politician but also a capable administrator,” he said. “However, he is facing unnecessary attacks and restrictions.”
Pokharel claimed that Oli, as the most sought-after leader in Nepal, is being targeted on social media.
“If we fail to create a favorable environment for those who work for national development, the journey toward prosperity will become extremely difficult,” he concluded.
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