Leaders of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), have vowed not to repeat mistakes they had committed in the dissolved parliament and to move ahead as per the mandate of the popular movement of the country.
Speaking at a mass meeting in capital, they said that holding the elections of the constituent assembly and restoring lasting peace in the country are the major agendas of the reinstated House of Representative (HoR).
They said that they will give top priority to the election of the constituent assembly and to take action against those using excessive force during the people’s movement during the Friday’s session of the reinstated HoR.
Addressing the victory rally, participated by tens of thousands of people, general secretary of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the SPA has no alternative to SPA then holding the election of the constituent assembly and establish inclusive democracy in the country.
He urged the government to be formed to provide appropriate compensation to the people injured during the pro-democracy movement of the country and to the family members of the people killed during the movement.
He said that though the SPA had given the mandate to Girija Prasad Koirala to be the Prime Minsiter of the reinstated HoR, he has to take oath before the people and work as per the aspiration of the people, adding, “If the reinstated house failed to address the problems facing the country and work as per the aspiration of people, we will come to the street resigning from the Parliament.”
He urged the people to be cautious as they have get only partial success and the destination is the election of the constituent assembly.
He informed that the lawmakers have decided not to take the allowances of the time, when the parliament remained dissolved and even considering not to take the daily allowances, considering the poor economic situation of the country.
“This is people’s victory,” “Leaders, beware! Elections must be held for the constituent assembly,” chanted enthusiastic supporters of the opposition parties. They were carrying four-start flag of Nepali Congress and hammer-and-sickle flag of various left parties.
Youths, women, professionals, government employees and even people who were injured during pro-democracy movement took part in the rally chanting pro-democracy slogans.
Former Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress Democratic (NC-D) Sher Bahadur Deuba said that parties will not deviate from the mandate of the people and will work for the welfare of people.
Deuba, who was sacked time and again from the post of Prime Minister following the dissolution of the parliament citing Article 127 of the Constitution said that the parliament will delete Article 127 of the constitution and remove the provision of Rajparishad.
Former premier Deuba, once known as the loyal to the King, said, “I knew the King better so he may deceive the people so I can’t compromise in the issue of holding election of the constituent assembly to make people sovereign.”
Deuba stressed the need of changing phrase His Majesty’s Government into Nepal government and to make Royal Nepalese Army inro Nepali National Army.
“I get deceived time and again but this time I will not be deceived,” Deuba expressed his bitterness that he was sacked by the King while working in his favour as well.
NC president Girija Prasad Koirala who was selected for the post of Prime Minister by the SPA, did not attend the mass meeting due to ill-health but the mass chanted slogans demanding Koirala to come to the rally and express his commitment to work in favour of people and respect the mandate of the people.
The crowd did not allow NC vice president Sushil Koirala, to speak on behalf of GP Koirala and NC. They chanted slogans like, “We want Girija”, “We wan’t his comitment”, “Leaders don’t deceive us”.
The SPA that had announced a protest programme for the restoration of complete democracy in the country from the same location some three years ago and urged people to participate in their protest programme organized as a victory meeting in the same location to make commitment to the people before the first meeting of the reinstated HoR.
The King on Monday reinstated the HoR as per the demand of the SPA, following the 19-day long general strike of SPA and nationwide protest programme.
Sushil quoted Girija as saying that he will work as per the people’s mandate and move ahead as per the roadmap of the seven political parties.
Addressing the same programme, Chairman of People’s Front Nepal Amik Serchan said that the agitation of the SPA become successful due to the active participation of the Maoists and added that the problems facing the country will not be resolved unless the parliament holds election to the constituent assembly.
Similarly, chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Chairman of United Leftist Front Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari and Bharat Bimal Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) also reiterated that holding the election of the constituent assembly is the main duty of the reinstated parliament and vowed that the parliament will work in favour of people.
They said that they will not repeat the mistakes parties had done in the parliament and added that they will work in favour of people to establish inclusive democracy in the country and to restore lasting peace by bringing Maoists into the mainstream of politics.
Chairman of Nepal Bar Association Sambhu Thapa and Chairman of Federation of Nepalese Journalists Bishnu Nisthuri also cautioned the lawmakers not to curtail people’s rights and to hold the election of the constituent assembly immediately to bring the Maoists into the political mainstream for restoring lasting peace in the country.
They added that the problems facing the country could not be resolved without addressing the agendas raised by the Maoists.
The local administration withdrew its order declaring Tundikhel and surrounding areas as ‘prohibited zone’ on Tuesday allowing people to assemble at the city center for the first time in the last 15 months. nepalnews.com pb Apr 27 06