Calls grow for probe after 35,257 minors found in RSP membership list

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a key player in Nepal's ruling coalition, is facing significant backlash after an internal report revealed that over 35,000 individuals under the age of 18 were granted party membership. This revelation has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and child rights advocates, who argue the party has violated Nepalese law.

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The membership records show that there are 35,257 members below the age of 18. I want to draw the attention of this House to a fact officially acknowledged by the party itself.

During the RSP's general convention, a report indicated that 35,257 members were below 18, with the Bagmati province having the highest number of underage members. The party has since responded by attributing the figures to a "technical error," suggesting that applicants mistakenly used the Gregorian calendar (AD) instead of Nepal's Sambat calendar (BS) for their birth years. The RSP has stated that any memberships found to be underage will be canceled following a verification process.

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Under the Constitution of Nepal and the Political Parties Act, 2017, individuals below 18 cannot become members of a political party. Is the ruling RSP exempt from the Constitution and the law, or does it consider itself above them?

Despite the RSP's explanation, opposition parties like the Nepali Congress have accused the party of flouting the Constitution and the Political Parties Act, which explicitly prohibit individuals under 18 from becoming formal party members. Lawmakers have questioned whether the ruling party believes it is exempt from legal statutes. Milan Dharel, former executive director of the National Child Rights Council, echoed these concerns, labeling the RSP's actions as unlawful and potentially constituting "violence against children" under relevant acts.

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Our laws clearly prohibit political parties from granting membership to children. In that sense, this amounts to violence against children under Section 64(2) of the Act Relating to Children.

Child rights organizations emphasize that while children have a right to political participation and education, this must occur within legal boundaries. Formal enrollment as party members is prohibited, although children are free to support political parties. The Constitution of Nepal guarantees children's rights, including protection from exploitation, and the Act Relating to Children defines a child as anyone under 18, explicitly prohibiting their use for political purposes.

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Political parties need to understand that children have the right to political participation, but that right must be exercised within legal limits.