A jamboree of district presidents of the Nepali Congress concluded on Friday declaring that the government was headed for a totalitarian rule.

In a 21-point Hetauda Declaration issued at the end of the jamboree, they also concluded that the government was acting against people’s aspirations. Some of the recent moves of the government against “the media, statements against the judiciary, and terror in bureaucracy” were interpreted as the government’s attempts at totalitarianism.

According to the document, the party stands firm to defend democratic norms to ensure press freedom, judicial independence, trade union rights and professional rights.Stating that the leftist coalition had brought the people high prices, the declaration of the opposition party said the government had shown its anti-public character by suppressing peaceful protests staged by students against rising fuel prices.

The declaration says that the federal government’s annual budget weakens the provincial and local governments. Hailing the party’s role in promulgating the new constitution three years ago, the NC leaders took pride in the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government upholding democratic values by conducting the federal and provincial elections.

The national gathering expressed its commitment to strengthening and improving the party organisation. In connection with the party facing an electoral rout last year, the NC leaders stressed the need for putting up a united face to deal with the challenges. The gathering urged the party’s Central Working Committee to represent district presidents in the Congress statute drafting committee.The declaration urges the NC leadership to maintain party unity and cooperation among the top leaders.