Dharan, September 28:

Nepali Congress general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel today said the Nepali Congress will never attempt a reconciliation with the King. Speaking at a programme of party cadres here today, he said the NC has always attempted reconciliation with the King, but the King has wanted to go his own way. Poudel alleged that the King has never understood the NC’s ‘reconciliation policy’.

He said the palace never wants to promote those who stand for democracy. Poudel said constitutional monarchy was dropped from the party statute at the NC convention as a mark of respect for people’s sentiments, adding, now, it is meaningless to attempt reconciliation with the King. Poudel added that the seven agitating parties should now not make the mistake of attempting reconciliation with the King. “Now, there will be historic change. Nobody should attempt to dilute it,” he said.

Poudel also said the current government does not want peace in the country, adding that though the ceasefire has been declared by the Maoists on the request of the seven agitating parties, the government has not responded properly. The programme was presided over by the Congress Constituency no. 1 chairman Chandra Kumar Shrestha. Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Nepali Congress Dr Ram Sharan Masaid at a press meet in Dang today that there had been more corruption during the past three years of the King’s direct rule than in the 12 years of multiparty democracy. Speaking at a press meet organised by Nepal Press Union, Dang, Dr Mahat said, “The only difference is that the corruption cases now are not made public. As there was more transparency and information flow during the democracy, corruption cases used to come forward.”

“Over Rs 300 million has been spent to buy the vehicles for the King within the three years. Even when I was in the cabinet led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, Rs 80 million had been passed by the Palace to buy vehicles. Had there been a parliament, this issue would have surely been raised in the House.”

Mahat added the issue of corruption during the 12 years of democracy is being used as a means to defame democracy. Answering to a query about the foreign money being used in the agitation, Dr Mahat said, “The countries in question have to present the account of every penny spent in their parliament. They are answerable to their boards. So the charge is baseless.”

Dr Mahat added, “The King is the head of the state and the government at present. Whole of the intelligence network is in his control. He should not talk anything baseless.” Mahat challenged the King to come out with evidence if the parties have received ant foreign money.