Kathmandu, April 16

Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli today denied government negligence for the delay in reconstruction works. He also urged the parties not to incite the earthquake victims.

Addressing a press meet organised to inform about the decisions of the party’s central committee meeting that concluded here yesterday, PM Oli admitted that the government had failed to begin reconstruction works early.

He said the government preparing to move the homeless victims to collective shelters before monsoon.

“We need to construct 800,000 houses and they cannot be constructed just like that. We need planning and a lot of preparations,” PM Oli told reporters.

He, however, said that his admission of delay in reconstruction works was being rumoured as the government’s indifference towards the earthquake victims.

Claiming that he became the prime minister six months after the earthquake, PM Oli shifted the blame on the previous government for the delay, saying it did nothing to expedite reconstruction works and later obstructed endorsement of the reconstruction bill for more than three months.

During the press meet, PM Oli also reminded the main opposition Nepali Congress to abide by the gentleman’s agreement, in which the major parties had reportedly agreed to form the UML-led government after promulgation of the new constitution.

PM Oli reminded the parties of the agreement and urged the NC to join the UML-led government.

PM Oli also said that discussions were under way with NC leaders to bring them on board the government.

The UML chairman also dismissed allegations that he was promoting factionalism in the party. “There is no factionalism in the party,” he said, “This is just a rumour.”