GULMI: CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal today said that violent activities of the Unified CPN-Maoist were on the rise in the recent days.

Inaugurating ninth district conference of CPN-UML in Tamghas, Khanal said, “as violent activities of cadres of UCPN-M have been increasing; criminal elements are using it as an opportunity.” He urged the government to bring such elements to books and take strict action against them.

“The UCPN-M is derailing the constitution drafting process through their protest programmes,” the UML boss said, adding, “The Maoists should be held accountable for the consequences of such acts.”

Khanal hinted at the possibility of dictatorship in the country if the constitution was not drafted on time. “The Maoists should come to agreement with the political parties and help in leading the peace process to a logical conclusion, he said.

Khanal, however, maintained that the problem among his party lines was an internal one. He said that CPN-UML was an ‘injured tiger’ with a bitter experience of a split earlier. “I am always striving to unite the party,” he said. He, however, reiterated that leaders should solve disputes through talks but not by making the matters public in the media.