Prachanda's remark riles Constituent Assembly members

Kathmandu, Dec 15 (ANI): Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda's recent remarks on violence and threat to quit the government drew flak in the Parliament on Sunday.

Speaking at the special hour, Bhim Rawal, a Constituent Assembly (CA) member from the CPN-UML, claimed that the Prime Minister's outbursts had the potential to derail the peace process and turn the country into a failed state.

Rawal urged Prachanda to enlighten the Constituent Assembly as to who was not cooperating with the Maoist-led government.

"This is the time when the onus is on the Prime Minister to assume the leading role to resolve all problems. He made an irresponsible expression at a time when he was supposed to expedite the constitution-drafting process and make efforts to take the peace process to a logical conclusion by forging political consensus. His remarks have threatened the peace process and frustrated the people," Rawal said.

He also asked Prachanda to explain why the government had not been able to take a decision on the rehabilitation and integration of the Maoist combatants.

Others Constituent Assembly (CA) members also came down heavily on the Prime Minister for his remarks.

They suggested that Prime Minister should exercise restraint and use the parliament to resolve all problems through talks and political consensus. However, Maoist lawmaker Bharat Prasad Sah defended Prachanda.

"Being a revolutionary, the Prime Minister raised relevant issues and made it clear that he won't stay in power if the government becomes unable to work in line with people's sentiments for want of cooperation from ruling and opposition parties.

In his recent speech, the Prime Minister has warned that his party will break the ongoing political continuity if the government continues to face hurdles in army integration and constitution-drafting processes.

He also threatened to quit the government after mid-January and reach out to the people if the ruling and opposition parties, bureaucracy and foreigners did not cooperative with the government, Kantipur reported. (ANI)