General elections, if called, will be boycotted: Bijukchhe

Kathmandu, March 31:

Standing committee member of the CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli today said the seven-party alliance would go ahead with the scheduled April 6-9 protest programmes despite constant threats from the government.

Addressing a programme here today, Oli said ministers’ constant threats to foil the demonstrations have no meaning as the parties had never sought permission of the government to hold them.

“We know the government does not permit us to hold demonstrations, that is why we need to hold them,” he said.

He added that the ‘handpicked ministers’ have no right to torture the public by saying that Maoists have infiltrated the city.

Jana Morcha Nepal leader Lilamani Pokhrel claimed that the April 8 rallies would be strong enough to end autocratic regime.

He urged the public not to pay tax anymore as the government does not represent the people and the King’s policies are in no way providing relief to the people’s agony.

“It’s sad that the head of the government blows up Rs 420 million in his safari and by making unnecessary trips to African countries while the people are dying due to the lack of access to hospitals,” he said, adding that the monarch should be held accountable to the people.

General secretary of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Bimalendra Nidhi said the changing scenario compelled the parties to drop any reference of monarchy from their statutes.

“The kings of the Shah dynasty never worked for the people during the last 237 years.

They showed autocratic character whenever they got a chance,” he said, adding that the people should learn from the past and stop helping the King.

Nidhi said the ministers have been showing aggressive attitude towards the parties out of jealousy after the parties succeeded to convince the Maoists to express commitment to multi-party democracy.

President of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe said the parties would boycott the general elections too if the King announced to hold them.

“Those who do not even know the language of politics should not stay in power. The King’s ministers talk in a threatening language. It shows that they are saying what the King wants them to say,” he said.