Pokhara, August 31 :

A standing committee member of the CPN-UML, Bam Dev Gautam, said today that “details of land belonging to the King were being collected from all over the country for nationalisation.”

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Press Chautari Kaski in Pokhara, Gautam

said, “Land Revenue Offices have been helping the government get details of the King’s property.”

Stating that the CPN-UML would not hesitate to slash powers of the King, he said the King’s powers would be curbed through constituent assembly elections and a referendum. Saying that the CPN-UML was in favour of establishing a republic, Gautam warned that the party would not support the parties which favour keeping a ceremonial king.

Gautam said the CPN-UML was in favour of forming an interim government and settling the issue of arms management within a month.

“The interim government should have been formed by now. The issue of arms management is delaying the formation of the government.”

“Though the draft of the interim statute is incomplete, the parties will give it a full shape after reaching a consensus. Stating that the draft could not be completed as eight parties were involved, he said, “ An independent committee should have been formed to draft the interim statute.”

Gautam, who is also the chairman of the All Nepal Peasants’ Association, also gave directions to party activists of the western region today.