Janakpurdham: Minister for Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato said today that the country would face a grave crisis if Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal was sacked.

Addressing a press meet organised by the Nepal Sadbhavana Party here today, Mahato advised the government to resolve the issue on a consensus basis. "The government has the authority to seek clarification from the army chief. But to dismiss him unilaterally will not be a good move," he added.

Mahato said he was against the cabinet decision to seek clarification from the army chief. "The UCPN-M is forcefully trying to bring the army under their control. We will pull out of the ruling coalition if the government dismissed the army chief," he clarified.

Saying that time hasn't come to search an alternative to the government, Mahato added there was no possibility of forming a government sans the UCPN-M. "Pushpa Kamal Dahal is not only the chairman of UCPN-M, he is the prime minister of the country and he should work as per the spirit of Nepali people," he added.

Mahato said the new constitution would be drafted on consensus basis. "The new constitution will be meaningless if it is not drafted through consensus," he added. Commenting on the disruption of the House session, Mahato said the political parties had a right to protest but warned that it might take the country towards a disaster.

"Those who want to rule the Madhes by dividing the Madhesi people are fuelling the Tharus' protests," Mahato said. Responding to a query on the non-implementation of the agreements reached between the government and the Madhesi parties, Mahato said, "We are facing difficulty in implementing the agreements, as we are not at the policy-making level."