Kathmandu
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MP Pratima Gautam slams signature campaigns by RSP

July 15, 2025
2 MIN READ
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KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker Pratima Gautam has criticized ongoing signature campaigns being conducted by individuals involved in criminal offenses, suggesting they are attempts to influence the judiciary.

Speaking during Tuesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Gautam remarked that people accused of fraud, deceit, theft, or other crimes are now seen running signature drives to sway court decisions in their favor.

“Now, we see those accused of crimes—be it fraud, dishonesty, theft—roaming around with signature campaigns to influence the respected judiciary. These are nothing but fake, pre-planned campaigns,” she said, addressing the Speaker. “So the question arises: what exactly is Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) agenda? Is it public service, drama, conspiracy, or fundraising?”

Her comments were directed at RSP’s ongoing signature campaign, which claims its party chair Rabi Lamichhane is facing “political revenge.”

Gautam further criticized the political culture, saying it has shifted from being based on principles to becoming a stage for theatrics and deception.

“Now it’s all about tears, accusations, and acting—where MPs themselves are the directors of political drama. After performing in such staged setups, they send QR codes from inside the jail in the name of signature collection and use it to raise money. What kind of new political idea is this?” she asked.

She accused such political practices of turning democracy into a reality show driven by cheap popularity, where scripts are written behind closed doors and revolutions are declared outside them—undermining both democratic ethics and public trust.