By Nepal News Correspondent

Kathmandu, Feb 18:

Despite mounting pressure, Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai refused to step down and said he would face the no-confidence motion registered in the party against him.

Prime Minister Bhattarai asked the secretary of NC parliamentary party to postpone the meeting scheduled for February 21 until 26th of this month.

Bhattarai informed this to party president Girija Prasad Koirala and NC parliamentary secretary Benup Raj Prasai today.

The NC parliamentary party meeting has been called on February 21 to discuss the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Bhattarai registered in the party by 58 lawmakers of the Nepali Congress.

Prime Minister’s press advisor Kishor Nepal informed the press today that Bhattarai would not be able to attend the meeting of NC parliamentary party on February 21 on health ground. According to Nepal Bhattarai wanted to be present and personally face the motion registered against him by 58 lawmakers of the party.

” Thus, he asked for one week’s time.

Prime Minister is recovering from backache and neurology related disease.

The meeting of NC parliamentary executive committeeended without any concrete decision as majority members of the committee walked out of the meeting refusing to postpone the meeting for another one week as demanded by the Prime Minister.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Bhattarai asked the secretary to postpone the meeting until February 26. However, secretary Prasai said that the constitution of the parliamentary party did not authorize him to postpone the meeting, said source close to party president Girija Prasad Koirala.

In a separate meeting with the party president Koirala, the Prime Minister asked to postpone the meeting. However, Koirala advised Bhattarai to step down as he already lost confidence of more than half of the total number of NC lawmakers.

Bhattarai then informed that he would face the no-confidence motion.