Kathmandu, August 11:

Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan today said nobody can nix the five-point agreement signed on August 9 between the SPA government and the Maoists seeking the United Nation’s assistance to manage arms and monitor the peace process.

“I respect Prime Minister GP Koirala who did not listen to wrong elements and who expressed his commitment to the 12-point pact between the government and the Maoists,” said Sherchan.

“Many disturbing elements tried to derail the Prime Minister but they could not,” he added, speaking at a programme on “Constituent Assembly and Mass Communication” organised by the Nepal Press Institute where a book on “Sambidhan Sabha Ra Sambaidhanik Vikas” written by Kashi Raj Dahal was released.

Sherchan added that political settlement was the main issue, rather than managing weapons. “If the peace process is not a success the Maoists will take to arms again,” he said.

Sherchan said the government was not formed on the basis of the constitution of 1990. He added that it was the strength of the movement that there was no need to follow the old constitution. “If the House can pass declarations beyond constitutional limitations, I can also do my bit as deputy prime minister,” Sherchan said. He added that it was wrong to pass the Successor to the Throne Act by the cabinet. Sherchan called upon the SPA to immediately dissolve the House as the SPA and Maoists both had agreed to reinstate the House for only three to seven days.

Maoist leader Dinanath Sharma accused SPA of not abiding by the 8-point pact. He said parliament was running with the concept of a King in parliament, and so it could never call for a republican set-up in the country.

UML MP Raghuji Pant urged the Maoists to convince the PM and top SPA leaders for a republican set-up as the House was ready to pass the proposal by a two-thirds majority.

Minister for State for Information and Communications Dilendra Prasad Badu praised the media’s role during the Jana Andolan and called upon them to ensure the success of the election to a Constituent Assembly. Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav lambasted the government for not respecting women’s aspiration.