Pro-democracy movement has backing of the world, says Sushil Koirala

Kathmandu, December 31:

Nepali Congress leader Sailaja Acharya today urged the King to revive the dissolved House of Representatives to reactivate the constitutional process and start dialogue with the political parties to find peaceful solution to the national problems.

“The King needs to revive the parliament to reactivate the derailed constitutional process and start dialogue with the political parties. Otherwise, foreign intervention cannot be ruled out,” Acharya, who is pursuing a middle path in her party, said at a programme organised on the occasion of 30th National Reconciliation Day at the Reporters’ Club.

Late leaders of the Nepali Congress, BP Koirala, Ganeshman Singh and others returned home from a self-exile in India with the policy of national reconciliation to mend fences with late King Birendra in 1977.

She said that the country’s future was in danger because of the sharp political polarisation and internationalisation of Nepal’s conflict. “Many international actors are playing the ground and India will play a significant role.” She also accused the King of not playing an affirmative role to find solution to the problem the country was facing.

There would a “question mark about the future of the monarchy” if the King did not act wisely, she said, adding: “There is no guarantee that the country will exist as a nation-state if the King does not mend fences with the democratic forces. Everybody knows how much hold the monarchy has in the country.”

She also accused King Gyanendra of following the roadmap of what his late father King Mahendra had drawn up in 1960s. “What does it indicate that the present King does not have the vision to lead the nation in accordance with time and people’s aspiration,” she said, adding that the Nepali Congress had a great responsibility to protect the nation’s identity.

She also warned that the Nepali Congress would cease to exist if it gave up its ideological base and class characteristics. Acharya said the municipal election was meaningless and it would invite a series of bloodshed, as the Maoist-declared unilateral ceasefire would come to an end on January 3.

Expressing scepticism over the 12-point parties-Maoist pact, she said: “I read the pact but could not grasp it. I do not know what the country’s future will be after it s implemented,” she said, adding that existing statute can address the nation’s problems.

Meanwhile, addressing a programme organised on the occasion of the National Reconciliation Day, Sushil Koirala, the NC vice-president, said: “The seven-party pro-democracy movement has the backing of the world.”

“Everyone should boycott the polls for the sake of democracy,”

he said. “We do not want to see violence dogging the nation,” Koirala said, adding: “The parties-Maoist pact will hold even if the ceasefire is broken.”

Parties to scuttle polls peacefully: KC

Narayangarh: Nepali Congress central member Arjun Narsingh KC on Saturday said the agitating seven political parties will, at any cost, disrupt the polls in a peaceful manner and challenged the government to impose ban on parties.

Speaking at the mass meeting organised by the Ratna Nagar town council of NC on the occasion of the 29th National Reconciliation Day, here today, KC said, “We will, through non-violent stir, disrupt the polls. If the government can, let it declare us terrorist and ban the parties.”

KC stated that the parties will start programmes from January 26 to scuttle the polls and claimed that the polls will not be successful at any cost.

“If the government wants to resolve the crisis it should conduct poll for a constituent assembly by dismissing the municipal polls. We are ready to participate in that election.” — HNS