ITAHARI: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today urged leaders of all the political parties to forge consensus to end the current political imbroglio. Talking to mediapersons after visiting the Purbanchal University at Gothgaon of Sundarpur in Morang, PM Nepal, said, “Now, we have to stop the war of words and forge consensus forgetting the previous disagreement.’’

Hinting at the UCPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda’s recent salvos against him and the government, the PM said that the consensus was possible after those involved in the verbal war realised that it would take them nowhere. He also expressed optimism over forging consensus among the political parties in near future.

When the PM was entering the PU, cadres of UCPN-Maoist showed him black flags at the entrance gate. Referring to the Maoists, the PM said,” Everybody has right to protest in a peaceful manner; so, it’s normal.’’

The PM also claimed that the security situation had been improving in the country lately. “The Home Ministry is leaving no stone unturned for maintaining law and order situation.’’

Talking about the recent arrests of the most wanted leaders of some armed outfits, Nepal asked, “How can one question the strength of the Home Ministry and security personnel who have been successful in nabbing the criminals?’’

The PM also visited different departments of the university and gathered information about their programmes. He took part in a tree plantation programme on the PU office premises. During the programme, the PM promised to help for the development of the university. He was accompanied by Education Minister Ramchandra Kuswaha and CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari.

PM pulls a fast one

ITAHARI: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has been facing Maoists’ disturbance during his programmes in various parts of the country lately, changed his schedule on Sunday.

According to Nepali Army source, the PM was scheduled to reach Gothgaun via road on Monday. But the programme was changed in the evening and it was decided that an army helicopter will ferry him to Gothgaon in a bid to frustrate the Maoists for staging their protests.

In Gothgaon, however, the Maoist cadres, who were planning to greet the PM with black flags, were surprised when a helicopter landed in the area. The Maoists had also planned to block the highway on Itahari-Gothgaon section to obstruct the PM’s convoy. As the PM, after getting down from the chopper, was entering the Purbanchal University, they demonstrated at the entrance gate. They also waved black flags to the PM’s chopper when it took off for Biratnagar. —HNS