Former Prime Minister and NC president G P Koirala

Former Prime Minister and NC president G P Koirala
(File Photo)

Former Prime Minister and president of a major opposition, Nepali Congress party, Girija Prasad Koirala has said the letter sent by US President George W Bush to His Majesty King Gyanendra is not going to work “as the latter was not in a mood to return to democracy.”

Talking to reporters in his hometown, Biratnagar, on Tuesday, Koirala said only a powerful people’s movement will force the king to give up his absolute powers.

On Tuesday, a leading daily reported that US envoy to Kathmandu, James F Moriarty, handed over a letter by the US President to the Nepalese monarch during his audience with His Majesty last week.

Kantipur daily quoted a highly placed source as saying that President Bush had basically urged the Nepalese monarch to reach out to the political parties and start a democratic process.

The octogenarian leader, Koirala, told reporters that the King would not listen to anyone in this regard. “Now, there is no option left than to strengthen popular movement against the king’s direct rule,” he added.

Koirala claimed that the direct rule of the king will collapse as soon as people defy and boycott the municipal polls.

Koirala also urged party workers to exhibit ‘total party unity’ within the party and its sister organizations. He was referring to protests by a dissident group of pro-NC student body, Nepal Students Union.

A group of students had staged sit-in in front of Koirala’s residence at Maharajgunj in Kathmandu on Monday and also waved black flags protesting the NC’s decision to constitute a new central committee of the NSU.

“This is not an opportune time to engage in internal bickering as it could only weaken the on-going pro-democracy movement,” he added.