‘Nation faces disaster if PM quits without consensus’

Kathmandu, July 13

UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Friday said that Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai would not resign from his post until the political parties reached a package deal to resolve the disputed issues, including those of the new constitution.

Calling the opposition demand for the resignation of the caretaker government meaningless, Maoist chairman Prachanda said that the country would be at risk of a disaster if Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai resigned without finding a political consensus on the issues of the constitution.

Addressing a conference of major stakeholders, organized by the Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhawana Party here, Prachanda clarified that the new constitution could not be promulgated from outside the Constituent Assembly.

He said the political consensus was shattered over the issues of state restructuring and federalism and urged the political parties to resume the efforts for consensus from that point.

He stressed the need of unity among the revolutionary forces.

"A counter revolt is inevitable if the revolutionary forces do not create a front for the sake of political and social transformation," he said.

Speaking at the conference, Sadbhawana Party chairman Rajendra Mahato said that the Madhesi parties could not imagine a constitution without federalism and federalism without identity.

Chairman Mahato, who is also the Minister for Health and Population, stated that the Constituent Assembly was dissolved due to the disagreement of the parties over federalism.

Mahato maintained that splitting the Madhesi parties for power and money was unfortunate.

Rastriya Prajatanta Party chairman Pashupati Shamsher Rana said that Prime Minister Bhattarai should step down to pave the way for national consensus.

Chairman Rana argued that political consensus was impossible until an all- party government was formed in place of the incumbent government.

Janajati activist Malla K. Sundar said that political consensus forged without the consent of the Madhesi, Janajati, Dalit, and Muslim communities as well as the women would be pointless.

Activist Malla also said that a constitution without an identity-based federalism could not last long.

Political analyst CK Lal said that the achievements of the past political movements would go astray if the disagreement among the parties continued.

Shiva Gaunle, president of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, said that Prime Minister Bhattarai should quit and give an outlet
to the present political deadlock.