Kathmandu, March 9 CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli today said time had come for people to be realistic about federalism. Addressing party workers in Kathmandu, Chairman Oli said attack on the UML’s assembly in Saptari and the government’s decision to recall officers of security agencies from the district had compelled them to rethink federalism in Nepal’s context. Four people were killed and several others were injured when police opened fire on protesters who allegedly wanted to disrupt UML’s assembly in Saptari on Monday. Stating that the government had demoralised security agencies by recalling their officers, Oli asked, “What will the government do when the local police would go under the control of provincial government?” He said the Saptari incident had shown that police force could not be left under the control of provincial governments. He also accused the ruling parties of orchestrating the incident to massacre UML leaders and postpone local level election. “We had not gone there (Saptari) with arms and ammunition,” said Oli, adding the party had gone there to tell the public about the UML’s stance on constitution amendment bill and other national issues, and the need for holding local level election. Oli claimed that the constitution amendment bill tabled in the Parliament was against national interest. He termed the UDMF’s threat to withdraw support to the government a farce.The UML chair also condemned the Kanchanpur incident, in which a Nepali national was killed today after Indian Sashastra Seema Bal opened fire. “The UML condemns the incident,” said Oli. He asked the government to contact Indian authorities immediately and demand that they stop excesses in Nepal. He asked the Indian side to sort out differences through dialogue and stop obstructing development work in Nepal. UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai accused the Nepali Congress and the CPN-Maoist Center leaders of encouraging the agitators to attack the UML assembly. UML briefs foreign envoys on Saptari incident Kathmandu, March 9 The CPN-UML today briefed representatives of the diplomatic community in Kathmandu on the Saptari incident, in which four protesters were killed in police firing. UML Chair Oli told Kathmandu-based foreign envoys that his party was in favor of elections but the United Democratic Madhesi Front, a partner in the ruling coalition, wanted to foil it. He also said that theSaptari incident had forced the party to postpone its Mechi-Mahakali campaign for three days. “UDMF’s position is undemocratic and does not serve Nepal’s national interest,” said Oli. He said the UML maintained restraint even as UDMF supporters waved black flags and shouted slogans against the party leadership during the campaign. He said the protesters were armed with home-made weapons such as spear, axe, bamboo sticks to terrorise common people and prevent them from participating in the UML’s programme. Oli further claimed that the UDMF deliberately mobilised its cadres to disrupt the UML’s peaceful campaign. He claimed protesters hurled dozens of petrol bombs at the security personnel to disrupt UML’s programme, which compelled security personnel to open fire. Oli told the diplomatic community that his party has focused all its activities to make local level election successful.