How have you taken the Supreme Court verdict on extension of the Constituent Assembly term?
All should abide by the verdict of the Supreme Court because the rule of law is fundamental to democracy. No one should disagree with the ruling of the court.
If so, will the new constitution be promulgated in the next six months?
Drafting the constitution does not require that much time. But the Maoists have delayed the process. Though it is positive that categorization of the Maoist combatants is progressing, its pace has been very slow. The agreements on returning the seized properties and disbanding the paramilitary structure of the YCL have not been implemented.
What would happen if the weapons were handed over to the government led by their own leader?
Prachanda (Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal), our General Secretary Krishna Sitaula, [CPN-UML leader] Bam Dev Gautam recently visited Bardiya to return the seized properties. Yesterday, we heard that land owned by Binaya Dhwaj Chand of our party was returned but today (Saturday) we heard that the Maoists announced capture of the same land by erecting 30 flags. Prachanda should take the responsibility for stopping it. Such incidents push the progress back.
Incidents like this will raise doubts. The party takes one decision while another faction of the same party obstructs implementation of the decision. The Maoist leadership should control this.
Your party decided that the CA term should be short. What does it mean?
We will discuss it with other parties. But our party held the view that the term should be extended by three more months only before the Supreme Court verdict. Now the term should be extended in view of the development in the implementation of the seven-point agreement.
Will the present government be given continuity after the completion of the categorization of the Maoist combatants or will the party look for an alternative?
There should be speedy progress in the peace process. The seven-point agreement should be implemented. Again, the claim that NC should be given a chance to lead a consensus government is not unjustified either since both the Maoists and the CPN-UML have already led the government twice [after the election of the Constituent Assembly]. But there has not been much progress despite their government in place. Therefore, a government under the leadership of the Nepali Congress should be accepted.
When will the government of consensus be formed?
This issue is being discussed.
Will the present government be turned into a consensual one or will there be another government?
A new government based on political consensus will be formed and the NC will lead such a government. But the present government is claiming that it will conclude the peace process and constitution writing. The prime minister must implement the seven-point agreement.
It is said that you and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have reached a gentlemen’s agreement on forming an NC-led government to hold general elections after promulgating the new constitution. How far is it true?
There has been no such agreement.
Isn’t your party demanding that it be given a chance to lead a government to be formed to hold elections?
It is our claim that NC should be given a chance to lead the next government as the Maoists and the CPN-UML have already led two governments.
How far is it true that you will lead a national consensus government to be formed under the leadership of the Nepali Congress?
There has been no such understanding. The only thing is NC should lead the government.
CPN-UML has already asked the prime minister to pave the way for the formation of a consensual government. How has the NC taken the CPN-UML’s decision?
Discussions are under way in this regard.
How far is it true that lawmaker Achyut Pandey is resigning so that you can be a lawmaker in his place?
Who said so?
How have you taken the boycott of central committee meeting by senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his supporters?
I am saddened by their move. There is no such big problem in the party. They should not make the problem a big issue. The meeting was called to discuss the peace process and constitution making; it was not called to discuss internal issues of the party. I waited for 15 months in the name of consensus in the party. I tried my best to forge consensus in the party. The departments of the party are yet to be filled up. The work performance committee is yet to be formed. The party is at a standstill in the name of consensus. I have not tried to run the party in an impartial way.
I have told him that the boycott does not send positive message. It would not be good even for him. He even does not respond to my phone calls. I ask him to resolve the issue through discussion but he keeps on sticking to his guns.
What will be the solution to the problem?
The solution should be reasonable.
Can we conclude that Deuba did not cooperate with you in running the party?
I did not get as much cooperation as I had expected.
Will you fill the vacant positions in the party departments even if the Deuba faction continues to boycott central committee meeting?
I will request him to attend the meeting. If he does not respond to my request positively, the central working committee will form the departments by including all friends.
You did not accept a suggestion prepared by a taskforce you formed to resolve the row in the party.
That is not true. There is no way that the decision [on dissolving the sister organizations] can be revoked. It is a decision of an institution.
Will you accept it if all parties ask you to be the prime minister?
(Laughs) It is a hypothetical question.
In a separate context, how do you evaluate the present situation of good governance?
A jumbo cabinet has been formed. We have heard of massive corruption under the rule of the present government.
What is the basis to support your claim of massive corruption?
We have been hearing of corruption reported in the media.
Related story
Priority right now not government change but progress on key is...
