Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The office-bearers of the National Federation of the Disabled (NFN) have padlocked the central office of the organization in Kathmandu for an indefinite period, accusing the leadership of operating the organization in an arbitrary manner. The FNCCI offices at Ratopul and Bhrikutimandap were padlocked under the leadership of senior vice-president Ram Bahadur Karki, vice-president Anita Ghimire and general secretary Sugam Pokharel.

FNCCI office-bearers, representatives of member organizations and various stakeholders were present in the padlock program. A press release containing the demands has also been pasted on the office premises.

“The present president of FNCCI has been acting against the statute, ignoring the institutional process and unilaterally taking decisions,” the statement said. It has been claimed that various decisions have been taken affecting the upcoming 10th National Convention and that the FNCCI has been run like a private company without operating it according to institutional and democratic

values.

The office-bearers have alleged that the meeting of the execution committee was called without due process and adequate information, the decision was taken by counting the members who did not participate in the virtual meeting or were ‘disconnected’ and the decision was taken to curtail the powers of the general secretary. Likewise, Butwal has been unilaterally designated as the venue for the convention by ignoring the suggestions of the four provincial federations.

According to the press release, it has been alleged that the renewal process of the member organizations has been stopped prematurely, more than 100 institutions have been deprived of renewal and preparations are being made to organize the convention by including only the institutions of their choice. The office-bearers have objected that the election committee was not formed on time and interfered in the election process.

Likewise, the meeting also raised the issues of freezing the bank account of the Far-Western Province Federation, the chairman himself controlling the decision book of the organization and misuse of institutional resources. It has also been alleged that the FNJ President has been postponing the convention time and again, and the institutional condition of the FNJ has been weakened as it did not work as per the common character of the organization.

Complaints have already been lodged with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Social Welfare Council and the District Administration Office among other bodies regarding the disputes and irregularities in the FNJ.

Vice-chairperson Anita Ghimire said the tendency of running the organization under the control of any person was unacceptable. She demanded that the convention be held in a fair and transparent manner ensuring the renewal of all member institutions.

Similarly, General Secretary Sugam Pokharel indicated that the agitation would be intensified to stop the activities against the statute and the offices of the Federation of Provinces could also be padlocked if necessary.

The office-bearers have demanded the immediate resignation of the chairperson, annulment of the decision against the statute and the formation of an independent ad-hoc committee to ensure a fair election with the participation of all member organizations.