Dang, May 20:

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal today alleged that Nepali Congress’ attachment to monarchy was hindering the country from heading towards a republican set-up.

Addressing a mass meeting organised here today by the UML’s Dang committee to mark the 23rd death anniversary of the party’s central member Netra Lal Poudel ‘Abhagi’, Nepal said: “The NC cadres are in favour of a republican set-up but a few leaders are supporting monarchy. This is hindering the country from becoming a republic.”

“People will not tolerate dictatorship in any form any longer. I call on the people to defeat any power, that supports monarchy, through the ballot box.”

Stating that the autocratic king gave in to Jana Andolan II, Nepal said: “The constituent assembly election would have been possible by mid-June or mid-July if all the parties had worked honestly and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had a strong commitment.”

He said: “It would be wrong to assume that the CA polls can be held only after abolishing monarchy. The UML desires that the parliament should first declare the country a republic. It is noteworthy that all the stakeholders have agreed to deal with the issue of monarchy in the first meeting of the CA. Our party is also ready to resolve the issue through a referendum. The main issue now is the CA polls. No excuse is permissible for deferring the CA poll.”

Earlier in the morning, Nepal said that the unity between the eight parties was necessary for fulfilling the aspirations of the people, as expressed by them during Jana Andolan II, and attain the republican order.

He said this at the inaugural ceremony of the eighth Netra Memorial Running Shield Football Tournament organised by the All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union, Dang, this morning.

“The credibility of the political parties is threatened. Each alliance member suspects the other, suspicion is rife. This must end, and we call for an atmosphere of mutual confidence. The youth should ensure continuously in this regard,” he said.

Nepal also emphasised that the date of the CA polls should be announced immediately for creating mutual trust among the parties.

“The king will then have no place in the democratic republic that will be established after the CA polls,” he said.

CPN (UML) standing committee member and former minister Yuba Raj Gyawali claimed that PM Koirala’s attachment to monarchy and the Maoists’ fondness for the gun were the main factors to defer the CA polls.