Bhattarai should quit pronto: Gajurel

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

BIRATNAGAR: Unified CPN-Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel today said Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai should be ousted at the earliest and a new government must be formed through consensus among political forces.

The Maoist leader, a member of the Mohan Baidhya camp, said his group could announce the birth of another Maoist party after a national gathering on Friday, but denied that the faction was planning to go for an armed struggle.

“The present government is the most corrupt one in Nepal’s history. It should not be allowed to stay in the power even for a second,” Gajurel told mediapersons at a press meet in Biratnagar today.

He noted that reinstating the Constituent Assembly was not acceptable to his group. “As the Rs 9 billion has been already squandered in the name of drawing up a constitution in the past four years, conducting fresh elections would be a disaster for the country,” Gajurel warned. “Isn’t it ridiculous that the government has announced elections for a new Constituent Assembly even after it miserably failed to promulgate a constitution in four years,” Gajurel said.

The hardline leader informed that the Baidhya group had called a national gathering on June 15 to give new direction to the party. “It is possible that we may announce the birth of a new Maoist party,” he informed.

Coming down heavily on party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Bhattarai, Gajurel said the two had failed to conclude peace and constitution-drafting processes.

“The rumour that the Baidhya faction is preparing to raise arms is ploy a to defame us. We will go to the people with our vision for new constitution and federalism,” said the hardline leader.