KATHMANDU: Lawmakers addressing zero and special hours of Monday’s House condemned the recent anti-federalist statement of Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala. “Koirala had demanded referendum on whether or not to accept federalism and said the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML made a mistake by accepting federalism on Maoist pressure. Making such statement was against the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Interim Constitution,” said UCPN-M lawmaker Hari Rokka. The lawmakers also demanded that the government clarify her statement at the parliament.

Lawmakers of various political parties condemned the government for mistreating victim Nitu Singh, who was recently deported from India. They also asked the government to make the House clear on the case.

Mahendra Yadav of NC strongly condemned the UCPN-M for killing, manhandling and extorting NC cadres across the country. Citing a recent case of Gorkha district, where an NC worker was attacked severely, he warned the ex-rebels not to repeat such activities.