Addressing a mass gathering of the party at Tirhutiya Gachhi in Janakpur, Koirala said the Maoists have put the constitution drafting process in jeopardy on the pretext of disputes within the party. [break]
Koirala also argued that there is no point in drafting the new constitution without first drawing the federal map of the country. "Some section of the Madhes-based parties and the Maoists are trying to fish in the troubled waters by spreading false rumors that NC is against federalism. But we are not against federalism and the country would go federal at any cost.”
Koirala argued that new campaign of the party had helped revive the organizational hold of NC in Tarai districts. Alleging that Madhes-based parties only crave for power, he said they would perish after the new constitution is promulgated.
Addressing the function, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel claimed it was his party that raised the issues of federalism and inclusiveness. He, however, said that right to self determination cannot be granted. "Right to self-determination could be suicidal at a time when communists hold sway," he added.
He criticized Madhes-based parties for blindly following the Maoists. "The Madhes-based parties are helping the Maoists plunder the country."
Arguing that the 14-state model of federalism would not even last for two days, Paudel said that there will be a civil war in the country if federal states are drawn on the basis of ethnicity.
Other senior leaders of the party including treasurer Chitra Lekha Yadav, central member Shekhar Koirala, Ram Chandra Tiwari, Minaxi Jha, Leela Koirala and Ananda Dhungana also addressed the gathering.
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