Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 21:

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leadership has come under tremendous pressure from its sister organisations and party cadres to take a clear stand on the February 1 royal move.

“The party cannot just take the middle line, it should either support the King’s move or take to the streets,” party influential leader and CWC member Jagat Gauchan told a press conference today criticising the party chairman Pashupati SJB Rana for “imposing” dictatorialship in the party. He also warned that Rana would have to face a “tough time” during the upcoming CWC meet. Affirming that majority of the party workers and supporters, including the sister organisations (National Democratic Student Organisation, National Democratic Women Organisation, National Democratic Youth Organisation) are in support of the King’s move, Gauchan suspected that Rana and a few leaders might have been “remote controlled” by some external forces for not supporting the King’s move. “I, however, do not know which force it is,” he said.

He also challenged the statement issued by the party yesterday, which said Gauchan “resigned” from the post of Coordinator of the NDSO. “No, I did not resign, but they dismissed me because I denied to dance to the tune of Rana,” Gauchan said conceding that Rana had “pressurised” him either to postpone yesterday’s NDSO press meet or “resign” because “Rana knew students support the King’s move.” “I categorically told him that I would neither resign nor postpone the meet,” Gauchan said coming down heavily on Rana for “imposing” dictatorship in the party by deciding against the party cadres’ desire, which is to support the King’s move. Gauchan also lambasted the senior party leaders for wrangling among themselves. “They all are King-made politicians and have not made enough contribution for the party,” he said, adding, since RPP is committed to nation, nationality, crown and democracy, it cannot compromise on anything that is against the Monarchy.