Leaders of major opposition parties have urged His majesty The King to postpone the municipal polls slated for February 8 not to complicate the problems dogging the country.
Participants at an interaction programme organised by SAP Nepal, Friday, Jan 13 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Participants at an interaction programme organised by SAP Nepal, Friday, Jan 13 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Speaking at an interaction programme in the capital on Friday, joint general secretary of Nepali Congress, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, said election is not an administrative or technical process but a political one. So election held without consensus of the political parties will only complicate the problem.
“Election is not just a process of providing security and holding it as perceived by (vice chairman of the cabinet) Dr Tulsi Giri and (Home Minister) Kamal Thapa. It should rather give outlet to the problems dogging the country,” Mahat added terming the forthcoming municipal poll as a drama.
He said that derailment of the present constitution and royal takeover of February 1 last year were the main causes of conflict of the country.
Coming down heavily upon Raj Parishad—a royal advisory body, Dr Mahat said, “The Raj Parishad, which has the authority only to select royal successors, is being used as a political tool.”
Stating that Maoists had agreed to join the mainstream due to national and international circumstances, Mahat said that parties should agree to go to the elections of the constituent assembly.
Mahat said that inclusive democracy was the only alternative to resolve the crisis prevailing in the country, adding, “The present problems emerged in the country as we practised only representative democracy 9not the inclusive one) after the restoration of the democracy in 1990.”
Speaking at the same programme, leader of NC (Democratic) Dr Narayan Khadka said the King should postpone the municipal polls to save the country from further deterioration.
“If the election is not postponed, it would give a decisive turn to the conflict of the country and restore people’s sovereignty,” he added. He said that the government should declare unilateral ceasefire to address the Maoist problem. He charged the King of misusing state resources in the name of listening to the grievances of the people while at the same time neglecting the pressing issues of the country.
“People are raising questions regarding the relevancy of the monarchy despite the royal efforts to gain cheap popularity,” he added.
Officials, however, say the royal visit to different regions of the country affords His Majesty an opportunity to apprise himself with country’s problems and expedite development programmes.
Dr Khadka further said there was the need of more homework within the alliance of seven political parties about the future direction of the on-going movement and about their goal.
Leader of Rastriya Janashakti Party, Sarvendra Nath Shukla, said the conflict in the country could not be resolved by addressing the political problem only. Economic, social and cultural problems also need to be addressed to resolve the conflict in the country, he added.
He further said the 12-point agreement between the political parties and Maoists is a positive step in a bid to reduce on-going armed conflict in the country.