Biratnagar, October 24:

Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala today said his party was focussed more on successfully writing a new democratic constitution rather than toppling the Maoist-led government.

Koirala, who is in Biratnagar in connection with a party’s national awareness campaign to be launched tomorrow, told journalists that it was not necessary to topple the government through conspiracies. “NC does have any intention to topple the government. And if it topples, it will topple because of the Maoists’ arrogance.”

Koirala accused the government of diverting its attention to minor things rather than focussing

on constitution writing.

The octogenarian NC boss said the party was going to launch the nationwide campaign to mount pressure on the government to draft the constitution on time. “Though the constitution

should be drafted within two years, it is not on government’s priority and the government has not begun a process for it yet,” the former prime minister said.

On the issue of Maoists advocating People’s Republic, Koirala said, “I don’t know the communists’ ways of playing with words. However, human rights, press freedom and individual freedom should be ascertained at all costs in any system. I do not agree to anyone who is against these freedoms,” he said. “Democracy is the only goal of my life.”

Earlier, Koirala met with senior party cadres and his childhood friends including Bhimraj Naulakha and Rama Prasad Rijal this morning.

The first phase of the party’s national awareness campaign that kicks off tomorrow will last till mid-December, according to Koirala.

Meanwhile, the Morang chapter of NC has intensified publicity for the campaign.

In this connection, the party’s women wing staged a rally today.

The campaign will kick off with a mass meet in Biratnagar tomorrow. Koirala is scheduled to address the meet.