Kathmandu, January 16:

Lawmakers today sought PM Girija Prasad Koirala’s clarification on the remarks of minister without portfolio Sujata Koirala on the monarchy and also asked the PM to dismiss her for violating the constitution.

Lawmakers, other than the Nepali Congress MPs, said Sujata’s remarks in favour of the monarchy in Biratnagar earlier this week have violated the spirit of the interim constitution and the 23-point agreement of the seven parties.

Speaking at the special hour of today’s session, UML lawmaker Birodh Khatiwada asked the government to either clarify its formal position on Sujata’s remarks or immediately dismiss her from the cabinet. Janamorcha Nepal MP Leela Mani Pokhrel said, “She has lost her rights and moral ground to stick to the portfolio by backing monarchy.”

Maoist MPs Amrita Thapa, Shanta Shrestha and Padam Lal Biswokarma charged Sujata with being a monarchist and demanded that she resign both from the government and the parliament.

NWPP MP Sunil Prajapati asked the government to clarify its position on Sujata’s views on the monarchy while Janamorcha Nepal’s Kaman Singh Lama asked what exactly her remarks signified. NC MP Dr Prakash Saran Mahat raised concern about hooting by Maoists when NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba was addressing Monday’s meeting in Khulamanch. “This is an attack on the NC,” Mahat said. He objected to the way Maoist chairman Prachanda commented on the Nepal Army during the mass meet.