Kathmandu, May 9:

CPN-UML central member Shankar Pokharel said today that the eight parties would not be able to announce the date for constituent assembly polls because of the Nepali Congress’s indecisiveness on the issue of monarchy.

“NC strategy is to take all, even the royalists, along during the constituent assembly elections by not deciding on the issue of monarchy right now. That is why the party, which has been leading the interim government, has not taken any official decision on it,” said Pokharel, addressing a programme at the Media Group Nepal.

He said the unity among the eight parties would be short-lived unless they were clear on democratic republic and the process of achieving it. “But it is an irony that the parties have divergent views on republic.”

Commenting on deteriorating security situation across the country, Pokharel said Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who is responsible for maintaining law and order, has spent too much time on peace process. He said the nation was relying on police force, whose morale was at its ebb since the conflict, for maintaining law and order.

On Young Communist League’s (YCL) high-handedness, he said it was the “by-product” of the Maoist leadership. “YCL’s high-handedness must not be seen in isolation, as it has been activated by the party itself,” he added.

Stating that the country was moving towards a republican set-up, central leader of the NC-D, Dr Minendra Rijal, said only people’s mandate in the CA polls can help achieve the republic.

Rijal said although the eight parties may decide the CA poll date giving enough time for the Election Commission, the same cannot be done without taking political decision on the issues of the Madhesis and Janajatis. He said the Maoists must improve their behaviour and should adhere to democratic values to hold the election.

Co-general secretary of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi) Anil Kumar Jha said the next date of the election must not be postponed once it is announced.

No rooting for republic: NSU chief

Narayangarh: The Nepali Congress-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union (NSU) has decided not to make the republic its agenda. Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, NSU central president Mahendra Sharma said: “We will not make republic our immediate slogan. Our first priority is the constituent assembly polls.”

Saying that the NSU does want the parliament to declare the nation a republic, Sharma said that the union would prefer that a referendum be held in this regard. He also alleged that the Maoists did not want to face the CA polls. He warned that the NSU would retaliate if the Maoist-affiliated YCL continues its anarchy. He also informed that the general conference of the NSU scheduled for May 9-11 at Janakpur has been rescheduled for May 21 -23 at Bharatpur.

The catch phrase of the 10th general convention is “10th general convention for effective students’ campaign, educational achievement, sustainable peace and total democracy leading to success of the constituent assembly polls,” the release issued at the press conference said. Some 1,200 participants including representatives of district committees, campus units, and NSU units will attend the meet, it added.

PM Girija Prasad Koirala is scheduled to inaugurate the general conference, it was said at the press meet. — HNS