KATHMANDU: CPN Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday evening tabled a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the Parliament meeting. Explaining politics as a 'game of possibilities', Dahal said the time compelled him to stand against the leader, who was elected the PM from his own proposal. 'In this nine-month tenure, I realised that differences between the Right Honourable Prime Minister and us in terms of thoughts and working styles were more serious than I had thought,' Dahal justified his no-confidence motion. Comments on Oli's modus operandi Claiming that Oli had a self-centric modus operandi, Dahal accused the outgoing Prime Minister of using the Maoists for just extending his power. 'He moved on as if it was a single-party government, not the coalition one,' Dahal said, 'A question was raised as if his strategy was against the national unity.' Dahal reiterated that he had reminded Oli of the need of national consensus to solve current political problems the nation is facing including implementation of the Constitution and addressing demands raised by Madhesi parties. 'Differences on national unity' He elaborated that there were differences in terms of definition of national unity, national independence and nationality between him and Oli. The government tried to provoke a particular community and irritating various groups including the coalition partners themselves, instead of promoting national unity, Dahal charged. The Maoist leader went on to say that Oli was against federalism and republicanism. 'It seems he has a strong tie with those who want monarchy,' he added, 'He thinks (provisions for) proportional and inclusive (state mechanisms) are useless.' Peace process concerns He said the government, PM Oli and some lawyers close to him tried to trap Maoist leaders in human rights violation cases of the armed conflict era. In overall, the government was not serious to conclude the peace process, Dahal commented. Dahal maintained that he did not have any intention to break the alliance with the UML, but PM Oli himself was against continuity of the coalition. On 'gentlemen's agreement' In his speech, Dahal hinted that Oli betrayed a 'gentlemen's agreement' sealed with him, leading to recent developments. He was of the view that Oli had also struck a three-point agreement about changing the government reigns along with the May 5 nine-point agreement, but later denied to accept it. 'Let none of us try to edge anyone to the corner and finish him/her,' he said, reiterating that Oli was against the culture of cooperation. He said the Maoist party was forced to form alliance with the Nepali Congress after the PM's party refused to accept existence of the gentlemen's agreement. Stress on national unity The Maoist leader explained that a national consensus could not be actualised in past few years as Nepali Congress and CPN-UML were reluctant to accept each-other as their allies. 'The nation is in a dire need of national unity,' he reminded, 'There is no alternative of unity among us.' He maintained that the no-confidence vote would not obstruct the national unity, rather strengthen it. Meanwhile, Dahal urged PM Oli to take the the government change game as a natural process, as parties want to control power in the parliamentary democratic system. Dahal argued that the Constitution and the Parliamentary Rules do not have any ambiguity regarding election of the new prime minister and formation of the new government. Dahal concluded his nearly an-hour-long speech by reading out the statement of no-confidence motion as per the constitutional provisions. Nepali Congress' support Speaking after Dahal, Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi came to the rostrum and supported the no-confidence motion tabled by Dahal. Nidhi said that the no-confidence motion was necessary as the incumbent government did not pay any heed to concerns raised by the main opposition regarding solutions to contemporary political problems including the border blockade. 'He did not only pay attention to us,' he said, 'Prime Minister Oli did not take care of issues of Maoists as well.' 'We thought that if this difficult situation continues, the changes we brought will be in jeopardy,' Nidhi explained the very realisation gave birth to the NC-Maoist coalition. Nidhi also dubbed the government change process 'a beauty of democratic system'. He was of the view that the Nepali society is gradually being democratised with such parliamentary systems. UML's defence After Nidhi, UML Parliamentary Party's deputy leader Subas Chandra Nembang came to the rostrum to defend his party chief. Nembang made fun of the argument put forth by the CPN MC, asking how one could achieve national unity by severing ties with own coalition partner. He charged that recent activities of the Maoist party would not encourage national unity. He recalled that Maoist Chairman Dahal himself was the coordinator of a high-level political committee, which was formed to manage the government functioning. 'If it is the same person,' he questioned, 'Isn't it a no-trust motion against oneself?' The Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, which promulgated the Constitution last year, Nembang commented that parties were moving against the direction envisioned by the statute. 'It is an unfortunate path,' he requested, 'If possible, let us correct it.' He defended the Prime Minister's reluctance to put in papers as the NC-Maoist alliance filed the no-confidence motion in a hurry. He accused the Maoist party of forming and breaking alliances to meet its expectations notwithstanding pros and cons of the partnerships for the nation. The politician, who is also a lawyer, argued that the Constitution did not include any provision on the government change under the Transitional Provisions with an understanding that the parties would keep a single government intact till the first election of Parliament in accordance to the new Constitution. 'Based on the performance delivered by the Oli government,' he said, 'The no-confidence motion is wrong and unfortunate.' Claiming that the Oli government was successful in freeing the nation of a border blockade after the Constitution promulgation, Nembang questioned if the no-trust motion was a punishment for that. On the Maoist concern on peace process issues, Nembang claimed the government was heading toward concluding remaining tasks of the peace process; but the no-trust motion broke the journey toward that end. Meanwhile, Nembang also subtly criticised his successor Onsari Gharti that she favoured the Maoist party while it was preparing to file the no-confidence motion. He also satirised Madhes-based parties, who had announced protests against the Constitution, but signed the no-trust motion against the government filed in accordance to the Constitution; and argued that it was because of the government's initiatives to make the Constitution acceptable to all. Discussion to continue for two more days The House would discuss the motion for three days including today, according to Speaker Onsari Gharti. Speaker Gharti postponed the meeting for 11 am on Saturday after holding the session for around four hours today. Gharti has planned to conclude the discussion on Sunday. READ ALSO:

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