Himalayan News Service

Pokhara, January 21:

Former Supreme Court judge and one of the staute-makers of 1990, Laxman Prasad Aryal, today said a government formed under Article 127 has no right to hold election. Speaking at a seminar on ‘Present crisis and conflict resolution’ organised by the Pokhara Appellate Court Bar Association, Aryal said any election organised by an acting government would be illegal.

He clarified, “If there has to be an election, then let it be by the consent of all political parties with authority from the people and not just the King’s direction.” Iterating that the royal move of October 4 had deactivated the constitution, he accused the King of emasculating the constitution.

Claiming that authoritarianism had encouraged the Maoist movement, Aryal stressed on the need for unity between the King and the political parties to resolve the turmoil. Another member of the constitution drafting team, Nilambar Acharya, said the King was avoiding speaking to the side that could solve the problem. He added that a certain coterie in the palace was misguiding the King and using him to boost the strength of the army and increase its weaponry. He said the political parties should strengthen themselves if they desire to solve the Maoist problem politically.