Hetauda, December 2

Minister for Industry Som Prasad Pandey today charged that some Nepali Congress leaders had not cooperated with the government in opening the blockade at the border points.

“The blockade and Tarai agitation began during the NC-led government’s tenure, but some NC leaders are trying to escape their responsibility,” Pandey alleged at a programme in Hetauda. Pandey said, “The current crisis is getting complicated due to some leaders,” Pandey said, adding, “They are giving their silent support to the blockade and agitation.”

He charged that all top three leaders of the NC were conspiring to dislodge the KP Oli-led government and form a new one under their leadership. He, however, held that NC would not be able to constitute a new government bypassing the CPN-UML.

Recalling that the NC-led government had been formed after the election to the second Constituent Assembly, Pandey vented ire on the NC for conspiring to oust the incumbent government.

Pandey said the government was working hard to give a way out to the twin problems of blockade and Madhes agitation. “The government is using its diplomatic missions, private sector and political mechanism to solve the problem,” Pandey added.

He said the UDMF’s agitation was going out of hand.

He held that the government would demonstrate maximum flexibility to address the front’s demands.