Dhankuta, February 2:

Senior Nepali Congress leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said Nepal Army can be mobilised during the election to constituent assembly as a final resort.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Nepal Press Union in Dhankuta on Saturday, he said: “A consensus decision by the seven-party alliance can mobilise Nepal Army if anti-CA poll campaigners try to scuttle the election.”

He also expressed his ignorance about the king’s interview published in a weekly paper and said the monarchy would end after the CA election. He also warned the royalists against trying to obstruct the election.

Deuba conceded that the present security situation in the country is not satisfactory.

He also said that it was not possible for the SPA members to forge an alliance for the CA polls, but such an agreement could be reached for electing top SPA leaders.

NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said nobody has the right to speak against the mandate of the party’s general committee.

A report from Itahari said quoted Deuba as saying: “It is best to deploy civil and armed police in the present context.”

“Army could be deployed if the security situation deteriorates and the police alone could not maintain law and order,” he said.

When asked about the selection of candidates for the polls, he said: “The issue related to selection of candidates has not been settled, it has been delayed.”

After the press meet, he addressed a mass meet organised by Sunsari chapter of NC in Inaruwa today. Addressing the meet, he urged leaders of all agitating forces in Tarai to come for talks.

Saying that there is no need for UN mediation to hold talks with them, he said: “As UN mediation was not required during the talks with the Maoists, we have to solve the problem ourselves.” He said the acts of the Samyutka Madhesi Morcha of showing black flags to him and trying to disrupt the meet were undemocratic.

No NA deployment in Tarai: Sushil:

Hetauda: Acting president of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala said today the time is not suitable to deploy Nepali Army in the Tarai region.

Addressing the first CA election campaign assembly held here today, he said most of the demands raised by the Madhesi people have been addressed and the remaining ones would be addressed after the CA election.

He also criticised the Maoists for violating the 23-point agreement reached between the members of the seven-party alliance. He said police would help to forcibly return the property seized by the Maoists if they don’t return it at the earliest.

The CA election will be held on the scheduled date and the people in the Tarai also want the election to happen, he said.

NC vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha asked everyone to be cautious against attempts by some elements to split the nation. — HNS