Kathmandu, July 30:

Leaders of the seven-party alliance said today that the King is against holding dialogue with the constitutional forces as he is not satisfied with the rights guaranteed by the 1990 Constitution. They also viewed that the King is no longer a constitutional head as defined by the Constitution due to his “unconstitutional moves” since October 2002. Addressing an interaction at the Reporters’ Club, Nepali Congress central leader, Baldev Majhgainya, said the King was not satisfied with the roles given by the constitution. He asked the King to immediately dissolve the Royal Commission for Corruption Control without making it a prestige issue, which has created an outrage even at the international level. He said the alliance would hold talks with the insurgents by creating a conducive atmosphere as there is no military solution to the politically-inspired armed conflict. “But they will have to agree to our five preconditions before they expect any dialogue with us.”

On the occasion, CPN-UML central leader Subhash Nembang opined that the King had breached the political understanding reached with the people after the 1990 movement. “It is only the elected representatives of the people who have the competence, authority and standing to hold talks with the insurgents,” he said, adding that the King, who breached the historical understanding, should be asked if he was ready to reconcile with the constitutional forces to find a solution to the national crisis. Nepali Congress spokesperson Dr Minendra Rijal said that the King dismissed the then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and took over power following his refusal to step down. Rijal also disclosed that the King did not want the four-party alliance to hold general election and talks with the Maoists.

He stressed the need for the election to a constituent assembly, which would ensure an inclusive democracy. Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi said lasting peace in the country was impossible as long as there was the institution of monarchy. He also made it clear that the King’s despotic rule would not come to an end unless the political parties and the Maoists mended their ways. He said that people still were “hopeful” of the political parties but not “fully confident” that they would bring about any changes in the country. General secretary of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Dipak Bohara, however, said that the parties must hold dialogue with the King. “The seven-party alliance’s main agenda is the restoration of parliament, which can be done through fresh elections,” he said. He suggested the formation of an all-party government to hold the general election. “The alliance and the King both can initiate the process of dialogue to end the crisis.”