Speaking to the media in the capital, Khanal said though the party’s recently held standing committee (SC) meeting decided to go for parliamentary elections, UML holds firm that the current crisis could be diffused only by promulgating a new constitution from CA after forming a consensus government. [break]
“UML is for promulgating the new constitution from CA itself. Therefore, we are in favor of going for fresh mandate from the people,” Khanal said. He described the current ruling Maoist-UDMF coalition as a burden on the country.
“Our party did not support ethnicity-based federalism in the past and never will,” he said and warned that any move that thrives for carving out federal units based on ethnicity would be countered by his party. He also said the party is taking measures through dialogue to address the dissent surfaced in his own party over the party’s stance on federalism.
Khanal blamed Maoists for the current political mess and demanded that Maoist Vice-chairman and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai step down immediately to end the stalemate. He further ruled out maintaining any kind of working relationship with Maoists if it emerges that the former rebels had an agreement with India while starting the decade-long insurgency.
Khanal criticized PM Bhattarai for his remark that the country is being controlled from outside and termed the statement as ‘highly irresponsible’. He also demanded that the PM clarify to the people on realities about his claim.
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