Nepalgunj, August 22 Nepali Congress General Secretary Shashank Koirala today warned that the party would face a serious crisis if factionalism was not put to an end inside the party. Speaking at a press meet organised by Nepal Press Union Banke in Nepalgunj, Koirala said factionalism had divided leaders and cadres of the party. He argued that the party would not be strong and unified unless factionalism was eliminated. “To save the party and democracy, party leaders have to do soul-searching and be united,” he said, adding, “It is unfortunate that the NC has failed to be one when the former CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist (Centre) have unified”. He also said that he was making all-out effort to end factionalism inside the party. Stating that prosperity, development and defence of democracy were major mantras of the Nepali Congress, Koirala claimed that major developments had transpired under his party’s leadership in the country. Flaying the KP Sharma Oli-led government, Koirala accused the government of failing to do anything substantial during the last six months. He charged that the government had meddled with people’s rights, press freedom and freedom of expression. He clarified that the local levels won by the Nepali Congress would not impose the tax on the people. He reasoned that his party’s leadership was a must to make a prosperous and modern Nepal. He said religion should not be politicised. “Religious conversion is going on under different pretexts. People have to be given the right to choose the religion of their interest,” he added.