Do not sideline King, warn NC leaders

Kathmandu, Dec 9 (UNI) The top brass of the Nepali Congress (NC) has warned that sidelining the King might invite trouble.

Addressing a function here yesterday, nearly a dozen NC leaders cautioned that the country would meet with a ''mishap'' if activities aimed at weakening the King were not halted.

''Monarchy is the only basis for national unity. Constitutional monarchy is a must for the country,'' former Speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat claimed.

Stating that joining hands with the leftists would be a mistake, the leaders claimed that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the NC were becoming helpless against the Maoists.

NC General Secretary KB Gurung warned that the country would face civil war if the interim parliament proclaimed the country a republic.

Former minister Khum Bahadur Khadka said even Mr Koirala had no authority to proclaim a republic from parliament in contravention of the mandate of the NC mahasamiti.

UNI