Maoist to launch 'people's struggle' to settle constitutional crisis

Kathmandu, June 23 : The CPN (Maoist) has decided to launch a 'people's struggle' to settle the constitutional crisis in Nepal, after charging the Nepali Congress (NC) of intentionally delayed the formation of the next government.

According to Kantipur, the Maoists took the decision as a meeting of Seven Party Alliance (SPA), held at Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's residence on Sunday failed to reach consensus over the structure of Security Council, including a few issues on integration of armies-Nepali Army (NA) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said that the Nepali Congress doesn't want Maoists to form the government. PM Koirala is not resigning on the pretext 'who will accept his resignation' and he is also not ready on our proposal to amend the Constitution and elect a President through the Constituent Assembly (CA).

"The current government has already become unconstitutional following the resignation of the Unified Marxist Leninist and the Maoist ministers. A people's struggle is required to settle the constitutional crisis," Bhattarai added.

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said they would approach the people for justice instead of sitting for another round of dialogue.

However, Nepali Congress General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi termed the Maoist decision as immature.

"It's not a mature decision of the Maoists to leave the negotiating table and go to the people while we are close to consensus," Bimalendra said

During the meeting, Nepali Congress proposed that the Security Council should induct an opposition leader as its member while the Maoists refused it outright.

The Maoists said induction of an opposition leader in the Security Council would create further security complications. However, the Nepali Congress argued that induction of an opposition leader in the Security Council has become inevitable until a new constitution is drafted.

ANI