Kathmandu, August 25:

CPN-Maoist leader and Constituent Assembly member CP Gajurel criticised his own party and the CPN-UML today for disputing over the issue of ministerial hierarchy.

UML refused to join the government after Maoists refused to make party’s nominee for Home Ministry Bamdev Gautam senior most minister in the cabinet after the Prime Minister last week.

Addressing an interaction here today, Gajurel said, “Our party should not say Bam Dev Gautam cannot be the senior most minister and the UML should also not refuse to join the government just because of this issue.”

He said his party should not think of achieving revolutionary feat by sending the Prime Minister to China and India should also not feel bad about PM’s trip to northern neighbour before paying visit to India.

In response to a journalist’s query, Gajurel said his party had not abandoned the goal of achieving People’s Republic.

“We want to adopt peaceful means to achieve People’s Republic through the struggle of street, government and the parliament,” he clarified.

He also said that the CPN-UML, unlike his party was content with the existing parliamentary system.

UML leader Pradip Nepal, however, said the UML should now refuse to join the Maoist-led government, as the Maoists continued to ditch the UML.

“The Maoists will again look for an opportunity to kick the UML,” he added.

Responding to a journalist’s query on his controversial visit to China, he said he did not

violate any norm, as his status of minister remained intact even after he tendered his resignation to the PM.

“I have not been able to understand why my party objected to my China visit,” he said and added that he had already submitted a clarification to the party and would make it public when the time comes.