KATHMANDU: Intellectuals, political leaders and civil society activists on Wednesday expressed serious concern about the unfolding political crisis following Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s resignation from office.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised by National Intellectual Organisation of Nepal, Krishna Pahadi, a human rights activist, said raising legal questions on President Ram Baran Yadav’s move would merely be a waste of time. “It is self-evident that the presidential move was unconstitutional and was against the spirit of the rule of law,” he argued.

CPN- UML leader Surendra Pandey echoed him. “Though the Interim Constitution has clearly stated that executive power shall remain either in Council of Ministers of in the Legislative Parliament, the President has made a historical mistake in challenging civilian supremacy,” said Pandey.

However, he flayed the UCPN- Maoist for taking a unilateral decision to sack CoAS Rookmangud Katawal. “The Maoists failed win the confidence of its allies, which is why its decision was condemned from all quarters,” he said.

Shyam Shrestha, a civil society leader, accused the President of trying to impose arbitrary rule by taking Nepali Army into his confidence. “Some political parties are behind the President’s move to reinstate the army chief. As a result, civilian supremacy has given way to military supremacy,” he said.

He also flayed UML’s move to pull out of the government. “If UML were really committed to the people, it would have withdrawn its support to Maoist-led government to nail Prachanda Thaiba,” he said.