Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RJP) chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa has suggested the government to address the legitimate demands of agitating Terai groups in order to make the constituent assembly election possible.

Speaking at a programme in the capital Saturday, Thapa said the government must resolve the issues raised by Madhesi parties “within seven days” if it wanted to prepare ground for elections.

He also urged Prime Minister G.P Koirala to immediate steps in this regard.

Thapa, a former Prime Minister, also said that the people would not accept the results of the CA election if it is conducted with the backing of security forces and without the bringing armed Terai groups to the negotiating table.

There is also a need to check criminal gangs operating in Terai region, but deployment of army there would bring terrible results, he added.

Referring to speculations that the government could go for two-phase election, Thapa warned that conducting election in the hills and Terai in two different phases would practically thrust the nation into the path of disintegration. nepalnews.com mk Feb 09 08