Kathmandu, July 7 -- Amid criticism that internal democracy in the ruling Nepal Communist Party is on the wane, party Co-chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Saturday instructed his lawmakers not to criticise the government and the party.

At a meeting of the NCP Parliamentary Party, according to lawmakers, Oli said party leaders and cadres must defend the government.

"The prime minister told lawmakers to speak in support of the government in Parliament and its committees," lawmaker Devendra Poudel told the Post. "If anyone has grievances, the prime minister said, they should bring them to party committees and Parliamentary Party meetings."

Lawmakers, however, said they were forced to air their views in Parliament and parliamentary...