Kathmandu, May 9:

Former speaker and senior advocate Daman Nath Dhungana said today that “a 1950-type drama” — the collapse of multiparty democracy and emergence of an autocratic regime — could recur “if the government continues to extend the interim system of governance.” “It is not good to extend the interim system of governance,” he said.

Dhungana was speaking at a programme organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association to mark the Law Day. Senior advocate Kusum Shrestha launched the Supreme Court Bar Journal on the occasion.

Dhungana called on the government to simplify the process of CA polls. Dhungana also blamed people’s representatives for not working “properly”.

Shrestha, the founding president of the SCBA, said, “It is the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order in the country and hold the CA polls. The government will lose its legitimacy if it fails to maintain law and order.”

Meanwhile, organising a meeting at the compound of the NBA to mark the Law Day, lawyers urged the government to declare the date for CA polls.

Former NBA president Shambhu Thapa said the government would lose its legitimacy if it cannot hold CA polls. “Everything that you (government) say is not law and we are not bound to obey it,” Thapa said.

MP Harihar Dahal urged the eight parties not to be divided over minor political issues. MP Radheshyam Ahikari called on the parties to address the demands put forth by several interest groups. NBA president Bishwokanta Mainali urged the government to make its stance on CA polls clear.