KATHMANDU, Sept 18: President Ramchandra Paudel has said he was prepared to become a martyr in defence of the Constitution.
Speaking during a discussion with civil society leaders on Thursday, President Paudel stated that if everyone had refused to compromise when appointing a Prime Minister outside constitutional provisions, he too was ready to join the ranks of martyrs.
Quoting the President, Kundan Aryal said: “We must assess the situation and act constitutionally. First, appoint a Prime Minister who will uphold the Constitution before considering the dissolution of Parliament. I have no objection to appointing Sushila Karki as Prime Minister, but it should be remembered that only the Prime Minister can dissolve Parliament.”
President Paudel's Unconstitutional Move
President Paudel shared these views during a meeting with civil leaders, including former ambassador to China Mahesh Maskey, human rights advocate Malla K Sundar, lawyer Tikaram Bhattarai, journalist Kundan Dixit, and Nirmala Sharma, at Sheetal Niwas on Thursday.
According to Aryal, the President also consulted leaders of political parties, including the Maoist chairman, during the process of appointing Karki as Prime Minister. Names such as Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Barsaman Pun, and Nepali Congress leader Badri Pandey were specifically mentioned.
Paudel had not agreed to dissolve the House of Representatives before the formation of the interim government on September 12. He dissolved the House only after the recommendation to appoint Sushila Karki as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, protestors demanded both the House’s dissolution and the formation of an interim government, insisting that all parties compromise.
During the meeting, civil leaders urged the President to prevent further damage to the Constitution. They also submitted a letter advising him not to curtail the role of political parties or pursue revenge. The interim government led by Sushila Karki was formed under Article 61. Aryal noted that President Paudel had also consulted outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli before appointing Karki.
