At a time Maoists are demanding immediate dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR) and government, general secretary of the CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal, said that the present HoR should not be dissolved until the next alternative is found.

Speaking at a programme organized to mark the13th death anniversary of then party general secretary, Madan Bhandari, and organisation department chief, Jib Raj Ashrit, Nepal said, “While voices have been raised from some quarters to dissolve the HoR, others are insisting on continuing it until the next parliamentary election. Both the views are with the people’s mandate,” adding that the HoR should continue until a next alternative is found.

Nepal also urged Chairman of CPN Maoist Prachanda to immediately come to the capital for peace talks. Nepal also called on the Maoist leader to immediately stop collecting donations and taxes to resolve all the outstanding political issues on the negotiating table within a month.

“They should stop extortion to create a conducive environment for talks. We know that their cadres and armed guerrillas can survive at least for six months even if they do not resort to extortion,” Nepal said.

He added that the Maoists’ way of collecting donations was terrorizing and disillusioning the people at a time when the government was preparing for peace talks and the parliament has already made a historic political declaration.

He also made it clear that the fate of the monarchy would be decided by the people during the constituent assembly.

UML leader Bamdev Gautam said the democracy cannot be institutionalised unless monarchy is abolished.

Gautam further said that some leaders in the party were still opposing the agenda of democratic republic.

He also urged all the parties to agree to democratic republican set up of the country before going to the constituent assembly.

Speaking at the same programme, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister KP Oli said that the government would exercise maximum flexibility to create a conducive climate for the talks with the Maoists and added that Maoists, too, should refrain from activities that may spoil the talks environment.

“The forced closure of the industries and the recruitment of people in the Maoists’ militia without their consent cannot create a conducive environment for talks. The Maoists need to be sincere for talks,” said the deputy prime minister.