Executive excess

Why have a constitutional rights watchdog if it can’t even carry out its most basic duties?

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli manages to address various gatherings, inaugurations and other activities across Nepal on a regular basis. He is known not only for active participation in such functions but also for giving hours-long speeches, on any subject under the sun, while addressing them. However, he “couldn’t manage time” to attend an event held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a constitutional body within the capital city on Tuesday. The National Human Rights Commission had invited the prime minister as the chief guest at the commission’s silver jubilee but the Prime Minister’s Office informed the organisers that he was unable to attend “due to his busy schedule”. The office didn’t even send an official to represent the government.