Biratnagar, February 16:

Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala today said the Supreme Court verdict declaring the Royal Commission on Corruption Control unconstitutional has put international pressure on the King to end the autocratic regime.

Speaking to the NC Morang district cadres at his residence here, chairman Koirala said, “The Supreme Court’s verdict is the people’s victory.”

He also said that the court verdict has defamed the King more in the international arena.

Welcoming the SC verdict as a historic decision, he said it has taken the agitation of the seven political parties to a new height.

“Those standing against the democracy in the country are depressed following the SC verdict on RCCC,” he said.

Koirala, however, opted to remain silent on US Ambassador James Moriarty’s recent remarks. “I will comment on the issue only after consultation with the party cadres.”

He also made it clear that the political parties have no choice but to continue with their pro-democracy agitation and also directed the NC cadres to intensify the agitation planned for February 19.

He also informed that discussions have begun in the party regarding possibility of unification between two NCs. He said the government will have more power to crush the press after the formation of the Media Council.

Meanwhile in Kathmandu, leaders said the SC decision on RCCC proved the King’s takeover on February 1 was unconstitutional.

“The SC verdict clearly says the nation’s sovereignty rests on the people; people are the sources of state power; King’s actions can be debated in the court and Article 127 of the Constitution cannot affect other articles of the constitution,” said Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC at a talk programme held by Sambad Club.

KC said the US Ambassador to Nepal, James F Moriarty’s statement regarding the seven-party alliance’s 12-point understanding with the Maoists should be viewed as the US official policy.

Central committee member of the CPN-UML, Shankar Pokharel, while welcoming the SC verdict, said the apex court gave its verdict against the RCCC’s formation and continuation, as it had hurt the court’s jurisdiction. Commenting on Moriarty’s statement, he said the alliance-Maoist understanding was a “compulsion of Nepali politics”.

Dr Narayan Khadka, a Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader, said the SC verdict on RCCC proved the King’s claims, that his actions would not be questioned in the court; he was the sources of state power and he could use Article 127 on his own desire, wrong . He said that the apex court should revive the HoR to bring the constitutional process back on the track. Khadka said the US had been stressing the need for dialogue between the constitutional forces.