Power cannot be won from street: PM<br/> India wants stability: Sood

BIRATNAGAR, Nov 2: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that state power cannot be gained through street agitations and the time is not right for such protests. [break]

Speaking at the inaugural of the Manmohan Smriti Polytechnic at Hattimuda in Morang, PM Nepal said, “No one can gain state authority just through street agitations.” He added that nothing will be achieved by showing black flags or heating up the streets.

Children caught in Maoist-police scuffle

Maoist, UML cadres clash in Biratnagar

“Since there is no alternative to consensus, the agitation has to stop and talks must move on,” the PM said. He requested the Maoists to stop their street agitations and come for dialogue.

The PM claimed that the Maoist party cannot become a civilian party unless it is detached from arms and combatants.

He opined that unless the Maoist party detaches itself from arms it will never win the confidence of people and the international community. “Unless the problem of arms is solved, the constitution cannot be written in the true sense,” he added.

Chairman of the ruling CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal also requested the Maoists to stop agitating and come to an understanding. He added that at such a challenging time, the Maoists should refrain from showing black flags and obstructing important programs.

DPM Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar said, “I will not let Prachandaji´s wish to regain power through obstructing the House and agitations materialize.” “The Maoists have misinterpreted the other parties´ flexibility as weakness,” he added.

President of the Academy Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that Nepal can meet the demand for skilled manpower in the polytechnical field.

The project, completed at a cost of Rs 460 million under the aegis of the Indian government, has 22 modern buildings. India has agreed to convert the academy into a full-fledged engineering college. There are currently 288 students at the academy training for diplomas in mechanical, electrical and electronics fields.

India wants stability: Sood

Speaking on the occasion, Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood said India wants stability in Nepal so that the peace process is completed within the stipulated time.

“Prime Minister Nepal had an extremely successful visit to India and in his interactions with the leadership of India, he was assured of India´s support for stability in Nepal so that the important tasks of concluding the peace process and drafting the new constitution in accordance to the schedule can be completed under his leadership,” he said.