BIRATNAGAR: General Secretary of CPN-UML Ishwor Pokharel challenged the UCPN-Maoist to capture the state through a people's uprising if they can, on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Press Chautari Morang Chapter in Biratnagar, Pokharel said that the Maoists have been behaving like children. He added that they are not attempting to change the government in a legitimate manner but talking about the people's revolution to capture the state.

Commenting the Maoist agitation, Pokharel said that the Maoists are being self-destructive and their actions would backfire on them. He doubted their responsibility to the nation and the people and said that they have no alternative to consensus and cooperation. He also informed that that confrontation would not help anyone. He further said that the Maoists are well aware of the fact that the new constitution could not be drafted without consensus.

Pokharel promised the Maoists more ministerial positions if they join the incumbent government. In another context regarding his party vice president and Defence Minister Bidhya Devi Bhandari's view about the Nepal Army, he was of the view that any differences within the party should remain in the party and no minister should differ with the Prime Minister.