ONUF UK REVOKES MEMBERSHIP OF BHAKTA GURUNG; WARNS NRNAUK NOT TO ENDORSE HIS ‘DODGY’ ORGANISATION

London – Overseas Nepalese Unity Forum (ONUF) UK – the United Kingdom wing of the Communist Party of Nepal – has revoked the membership of Bhakta Gurung, and subsequently expelled him from the organisation, President Rajendra Pudasaini confirmed yesterday.

Revocation of Gurung’s membership was determined at a meeting of the ONUF UK, days after he defected from the forum and led a division of defectors to form what Gurung claimed “the legitimated ONUF UK”.

In a press conference held over Zoom on Saturday evening, President Pudasaini said, “While the Communist Party of Nepal has not split yet, the Pravasi Nepali Ekta Manch (ONUF) UK led by him [Rajendra Pudasaini] is the official and legitimate one.”

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Answering questions from reporters, Mr Pudasaini said that 7 out of 34 members of the ONFUK have fled to join the illegitimate organisation led by Bhakta Gurung, and action would be taken against them if their explanation were not up to the satisfaction.

“In the current situation in Nepal, the proposal of the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to dissolve the House of Representative has been in question; most of the members of the committee [ONUF UK] have been well aware that Communist Party of Nepal is not officially divided yet,” – President Pudasaini was questioning the legitimacy of the newly-formed ONUF UK.

Objection over NRNA UK’s ‘endorsement’ of party defectors

During the an-hour-long press conference, President Pudasaini also objected to the NRNA UK’s move towards endorsing Bhakta-Gurung-led ONUF UK. He particularly referred to the official congratulations and wishes of NRNAUK President Poonam Gurung for the defectors’ newly-formed ONUF UK recently published on different social media.

“We urge the NRNA UK and President Poonam Gurung not to take interest in the disputes of the Communist Party of Nepal. NRNA UK should rather need to investigate the issues raised by its own members – the financial irregularity. There is a lot of work to be done in the public interest,” he said.

The press conference was moderated by ONUF UK General Secretary Suresh Gautam. Mr Gautam also accused the NRNA UK of trying to provoke controversy by making statements about what he called “the illegitimate committee formed by Bhakta Gurung.”

Leaders of the ONF UK and UK-based Nepali journalists from various media outlets were present at the press conference.