CHITWAN, FEBRUARY 16

Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal today challenged Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to prove that the real Ayodha was in Madi of Chitwan and that Ram was born there.

Inspecting an under-construction city hall, Dahal accused KP Sharma Oli of hatching a conspiracy to finish his political career and added that the attempt to prove that Ram was born in Chitwan was part of the same conspiracy. 'If Oli's government can prove that Ram's real birthplace was in Madi through archaeological excavation, I will be the happiest person,' he added.

On a different note, Dahal argued that the Election Commission would not freeze his party's election symbol, sun. 'The EC cannot and will not freeze the election symbol.

Since the EC has recognised the 441 central committee members of Nepal Communist Party (NCP), it will validate the decision of majority members,' he stated.

Dahal claimed that if the snap polls were held unconstitutionally, it would plunge the country into the vortex of chaos and anarchy. 'Holding the polls by breaching the constitution will invite different forms of extremism in the country,' he claimed.

Dahal made it clear that he and his party would engage in peaceful politics to transform the country. He expressed full confidence that the House of Representatives would be reinstated by the court. Noting that talks with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba was under way, Dahal said the parties, including main opposition Nepali Congress, would be part of the joint struggle to be launched soon. 'I am holding talks with NC leader Ramchandra Paudel and Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal for launching a joint struggle against Oli and his autocracy,' Dahal informed.

Dahal said more than 90 per cent lawmakers close to KP Sharma Oli were against the dissolution of the House of Representatives. 'Ninety per cent lawmakers loyal to Oli are against the Parliament dissolution, but are not able to express themselves openly,' he added.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 17, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.