Prez urged not to approve CJ-led govt

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: At a time when four political forces -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) -- are trying to persuade the chief justice into leading an election government, six political parties including CPN-Maoist have urged the president not to proceed with the decision.



Senior leaders of CPN-Maoist, CPN (Unified), CPN (Maoist), Revolutionary Communist Party, Kumar Lingden-led Sanghiya Limbuwan Rajya Parishad and Social Democratic Party on Wednesday handed over a memorandum to President Ram Baran Yadav at his office in Shital Niwas urging the latter not to proceed with the decision. [break]



They have stated that it is unconstitutional to form a government under the sitting chief justice. The six parties have accused the government and four political forces of trying to make the interim constitution dysfunctional by misusing the provision on removing constitutional hurdles. They have also accused the four political forces of moving ahead under a grand design of external forces.





The rally of the parties head to Shital Niwas. (Photo: Keshab Thoker)



Meanwhile, 21 political parties represented in the erstwhile Constituent Assembly (CA), including Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Rastriya Janashakti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nepal have warned that they would not accept any decision taken by the four political forces.



A meeting of the 21 parties held in the capital on Wednesday took strong exception to the ongoing negotiations between the four political forces. “We will not accept the decision taken unilaterally by the three parties and UDMF,” said Chairman of Samajbadi Janata Party Prem Bahadur Singh, adding, “There must be participation of other political parties represented in the erstwhile CA in the negotiations.”



MPRF Spokesperson Ratneshwor Lal Kayastha, who was present at the meeting, maintained that decisions taken only by three parties and UDMF cannot be a decision of national consensus.



The meeting concluded that the principle of separation of powers should not be jeopardized for the sake of conducting fresh polls.



Leaders of 21 parties have also condemned the ongoing talks among four political forces at the office of president. “The president´s office has turned into an office of three political parties and UDMF. This has undermined the prestige of the institution,” reads the joint press released by the 21 parties after the meeting.



Industry Minister Anil Kumar Jha, Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Eknath Dhakal and Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Badri Neupane were also present at the meeting.

Related story

‘Govt should approve bill on burn victims’ treatment’