Oli’s health, leadership debate ‘irresponsible & criminal mindset’: Basnet
Basnet, speaking through a social media clarification, said he had presented 24 points during a UML Secretariat meeting, but claimed that only two of them were being misrepresented in public discourse.
KATHMANDU: CPN-UML leader Mahesh Basnet has strongly criticized discussions around party leadership change while party chair KP Sharma Oli is reportedly facing sensitive health conditions, calling such moves “irresponsible” and even reflecting a “criminal mindset.”
Basnet, speaking through a social media clarification, said he had presented 24 points during a UML Secretariat meeting, but claimed that only two of them were being misrepresented in public discourse.
He alleged that attempts were being made to distort his remarks and politicize internal party discussions.
Referring to Oli’s health, Basnet said the UML chair underwent two surgeries—related to kidney stones and hernia—at the Teaching Hospital after being admitted following a brief detention period. He further claimed that complications, including pneumonia and infection, have made the leader’s health condition “sensitive.”
“In such a situation, raising the issue of changing leadership is irresponsible and reflects a criminal mindset. The party should instead defend its leadership and strengthen resistance movements,” Basnet stated.
Basnet also criticized a party decision to correct remarks made in Parliament by acting chair Ram Bahadur Thapa, also known as ‘Badal’. He argued that Thapa’s statements regarding alleged foreign influence, algorithm-driven youth manipulation, and misuse of state security agencies during elections should not have been withdrawn or revised.
