PM acting under secret 7-pt deal: NC

KATHMANDU, Aug 2: It seems the already troubled relation between the ruling and opposition parties is set worsen further following Monday´s cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal.



The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC), which had repeatedly warned the prime minister against the reshuffle and has been obstructing parliament, has said it will launch still more stringent protest.[break]



NC has alleged that Prime Minister Khanal is bent on reviving the controversial seven-point deal reached secretly between him and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal hours before the formation of his government on February 3.



NC chief whip Laxman Ghimire alleged that the fresh bid by the prime minister to induct new Maoist ministers was tantamount to throwing away the five-point deal into the dustbin."We can no longer expect Prime Minister Khanal to deliver on peace and new statute. The prime minister is moving ahead on the path set out by the controversial seven-point deal," he said.



"We will continue with the House obstruction until the five-point deal is implemented and the prime minister steps down," he further said. The NC has been obstructing the parliament for past several days to exert pressure on Prime Minister Khanal to step down immediately.



Prime Minister Khanal had visited the residence of NC President Sushil Koirala on Sunday to court NC´s support for cabinet reshuffle.



NC leaders said the fresh move of the prime minister only vitiates the environment of national consensus. "The move of the prime minister to administer oath of office and secrecy to new Maoist ministers is an attempt to revive the controversial seven-point deal," said NC leader Ramesh Lekhak.



Among other things, Prime Minister and UML Chairman Khanal and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the ´secret´ deal had agreed to lead the government by turns. NC has grown suspicious as the Maoist leaders have been publicly saying that Maoist would lead the government after August 31 -- the deadline of the extended term of the CA -- as per the secret seven-point deal.



Another NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat argued that Prime Minister Khanal should have already tendered his resignation as per the five-point deal to pave way for the formation of national consensus government. "We waited too long for him to resign. He instead reshuffling the cabinet," he said. "We will strongly protest the move."



"Until yesterday [Sunday], the prime minister himself was saying that it would be wrong to reshuffle the cabinet. He was not ready to administer the oath of office and secrecy to new ministers. But he has eaten crow now," Mahat said. "This is totally wrong."



Meanwhile, various Madhes-based political parties have also objected to the cabinet reshuffle stating that the move will only worsen the environment of national consensus.



Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Vice-chairman Rameshwar Raya Yadav said the reshuffle has proved that the government is not serious about the peace process and constitution writing.



Liewise, Sadabhawana Party Vice-chairman Laxman Lal Karna said the reshuffle was a mistake. "This is political deceit by Prime Minister Khanal because his current status is merely caretaker," added Karna. Both MPRF-D and SP are constituents of United Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of five Madhes-based parties.



NC leaders divided over House obstruction



While majority of NC leaders still root for indefinite House obstruction against the prime minister´s move, a section of the party leaders have started arguing that ´indefinite´ House obstruction would not serve the interest of the part“. "We can obstruct House as symbolic protest. But an indefinite obstruction of House will only prevent the opposition from putting across its views. This will also not set a good precedent for parliamentary practice in Nepal," NC leader Ramesh Lekhak said.



Lekhak argued it would be better to postpone House obstruction for the next 10 days as Prime Minister Khanal on Sunday told NC leaders that he would step if the Maoists failed to expedite peace process within the period. "We can exert pressure on the prime minister to step down even while allowing House proceedings to continue," he further said.

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