Finance Minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana

Finance Minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana
(File photo)

At a time when mainstream opposition political parties have been warning to opt for a democratic republic, a senior minister of the government has said that the nation could go for referendum to test popularity of the monarchists and republicans.

“Country can go for a referendum to test who is popular – the monarchists or the republicans,” Finance Minister Madhukar Shumsher Rana said Friday. Minister Rana was speaking at a function, in Kathmandu, organized to found the European Economic Chamber of Trade, Commerce and Industry-Nepal chapter.

Blaming the donors of adopting ‘dual policy’, Rana said electricity production cost in Nepal has been one of the most expensive in the world due to them.

Speaking on the occasion, British envoy to Nepal, Keith Bloomfield, said there was no room for moderation and compromise in the six months of the King’s direct rule, according to reports.

“I leave it to each of you to judge how far King’s very laudable aim of restoring peace and strengthening democracy has been achieved in the last six months,” the British envoy said.

“But, I can’t help but notice that a new and very different mentality seems to have set in over that period. A mentality in which those who argue for a negotiated peace with the Maoists are publicly attacked for advocating giving in to terrorists, where democracy is presented as something that has to wait until Maoists have been dealt with militarily, where there is no room for moderation and compromise,” he said adding,”You either support those in power or you are seen as being sympathetic to the Maoists.”