Biratnagar, December 18
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has accused the CPN-UML of preventing the resolution of national crises by opposing the Constitution Amendment proposal.
Continued obstruction of Parliament meetings means discussions on the impeachment proposal against suspended CIAA Chief Commissioner Lok Man Singh Karki cannot take place, Prachanda pointed. He said that the government has not been able to announce date for elections because of the obstruction.
Prachanda, speaking at a press conference that Press Centre Morang had organised, said resolution of the political standoff hinges on the CPN-UML. He asked the UML to stop its anti-democratic and anti-parliamentary activities.
He said: The opposition party can prevent passage of the amendment proposal through discussions. It has the right to do so. But then the Parliament is the right place for deciding the matter through discussions.
Those blocking the Parliament should stop this anti-parliamentary and anti-democratic process, Prachanda appealed, adding: They should express their views in the Parliament and let the Parliament come to a conclusion. The political standoff will end the moment the opposition parties realise this.
Prachanda claimed: Strengthening national unity by linking the Himalayas, the Hills and the Tarai is the sole motive of Constitution amendment.
He said: We are not asking the opposition to support the amendment proposal. The government has registered the proposal, let the opposition parties put forth their views on it in the Parliament. There’s no other motive behind the government move. Taking the country towards elections by bringing Madhesh (Tarai), the Hills and the Himalayas together is the only motive of the government.
The government has registered the proposal by adhering to relevant laws, Prachanda said, stressing the need to make a decision on it through discussions in the Parliament.
He said: The impeachment proposal (against Karki) is in the Parliament. House obstruction has stalled the impeachment process. And the government has to announce the date for elections. All these processes are on hold now. Whoever is stalling these processes, knowingly or unknowingly, is blocking the way out of the crises.
Prachanda made it clear that elections for the Federal Parliament cannot take place right away, referring to the UML demand for the same. He suspected that it may be a UML ploy to foment unrest.
Prachandaspeak
- By blocking Parliament meetings, CPN-UML is preventing the resolution of national crises
- Because of House obstructions, the government has not been able to expedite the impeachment motion against Karki and announce the date for elections
- Unlike what the UML has said, elections for the Federal Parliament cannot take place early. This demand may be a bid to foment unrest
