Country will have to pay heavy price if polls held at gunpoint: Mahato

Published On: June 15, 2017 02:40 PM NPT By: Madan Thakur

RAUTAHAT, June 15: Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) leader Rajendra Mahato has warned that they would not allow the second phase of local level elections without amending the constitution.

Speaking at a press meet organized at district headquarters Gaur, Mahato said that RJPN would take part if the local level elections were held by fulfilling their demands.

Saying that there is no constitutional provision to hold local level elections by June 28, he suggested to holding three sets of elections by the third week of January by amending the constitution. “Even if the election date were postponed by few months, the sky will not fall. Holding elections at gunpoint against the will of the Madhesi people will be counter-productive.”

Meanwhile, he warned that the country will have to pay a heavy price if the elections were held using force without addressing the demands of Madhesi and indigenous nationalities.

He accused the government of discriminating Meadhsi people without restructuring the local units on the basis of population and urged major three parties – Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) – to create environment conducive for the local polls by amending the constitution.

“When you first took charge as the Prime Minister of Nepal, the country plunged into a civil war for almost 12 years, costing lives of thousands of people due to your inexperience and lack of vision. Now you have become the prime minister again for the fourth time. Don’t repeat such mistakes,” Mahato said, referring to Deuba.

Coming hard on Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Chairman Upendra Yadav, Mahato said Yadav has been the new edition of Oli who often calls Madhesi protestors as Indians.

Mahato also visited RJPN central committee members Rameshwar Yadav, Kamalesh Singh and leader Bachcha Chaubel who are doing time at the custody of District Police Office, Rautahat.

Police arrested them for vandalizing a vehicle during the second day bandh yesterday.