Lalitpur, June 15 :

State Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Urmila Aryal said today that Prime Minister’s remark on the ceremonial role of the king is his personal remark and that it should not affect the on going peace process.

“The PM’s remark is objectionable and we are going to seek clarification of the real intention of what he said, in the cabinet,” she said at a two-day National Consultation Workshop of Women Human Rights Defenders and Constituent Assembly.

She also said that the Seven Party Alliance does not agree with the remark and urged the public not to take it as a new twist in the political line of the seven parties.

Krishna Pahadi, human rights activist said that the king is not acceptable in any form in the present political atmosphere. “The result of the constituent assembly should not be something below acquiring Democratic Republican State.”

Pahadi added that the Maoists should be able to present themselves as a political party and respect fundamental freedom of the people. Unless the political parties have will power to include women in all sectors of national mainstream, the declaration by the House of Representatives cannot be assured.

Pampha Bhusal, central member of CPN (Maoist), said the summit talk, which would be attended by the Maoist Supremo Prachanda, will have women representation. “Without empowering women and ensuring their proportional representation in all the sectors of the national building, the ultimate goal of institutionalising a republican country cannot be attained,” she added Uma Adhikary, central member of Nepali Congress (Democratic), said the declaration of 33 per cent reservation for women in all sectors should be implemented immediately through the bill. “Though fifty one per cent women’s population cannot be represented by 33 per cent, the recent reservation policy can still be considered a positive step.”