Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 22:

Terming the present government an autocratic government, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tara Nath Ranabhat, said today it has failed to restore peace. He also labelled the February 1 royal takeover as an autocratic move, and said it had aggravated the problems facing the country. Handing over the Gopal Gotame journalism award to journalist Kabir Rana at a programme organised in the Capital, Ranabhat said: Now that the government nominated by the King has failed to solve the constitutional and political crisis, the King and political parties should work together to resolve the crisis, Ranabhat said. He, however, said that he would not support the Nepali Congress if it passed the resolution to go to the constituent assembly or opted for the republican set-up. “These are not the agendas of the Nepali Congress,” he said and ruled out a coalition between the seven parties and the Maoists. “Though I am black, I am honest and never got involved in corruption,” he said.