BANKE: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala today urged Unified CPN-Maoist not to pull the President into controversies.

At a press conference organised by Nepal Press Union Banke chapter in Nepalgunj, DPM Koirala said, "The nation will be strong when the President is empowered. If attempts are made to impose allegations to the President, it will invite instability in the nation. Therefore, I urge the UCPN-M not to drag that nation towards the risk." Furthermore, "The Maoists are ignoring the statute drafting process by dragging the President into controversy," she added.

Saying that the country had turned chaotic, she hinted at the nation turning to a failed state if the budget was not passed. It was ridiculous to talk about civilian supremacy by disrupting the parliament, Koirala said. She opined that disruption of the parliament was against civilian supremacy. "The Maoists talk of New Nepal. However, instability, insecurity and impunity that was rampant in the country," she remarked.

The Maoists cadres, however, greeted her with black flags in Gulariya. The DPM also had talks with party cadres and representatives of NC's sister organisations in Bardiya.

Meanwhile, she reiterated that the present government should do the needful for peace and take the peace process to a logical conclusion. She repeatedly invited the Maoists to join the government. She also pointed at the possibility of foreign intervention if the parties were not united.

She also said that preparation was underway for a high-level political mechanism under the leadership of NC president Girija Prasad Koirala. She, however, underscored the support of major political parties for the formation for the mechanism.

Ironically though, the DPM who had arrived in Nepalgunj to inaugurate a gathering of cultural association in Rolpa tomorrow returned to the capital citing security reasons.