Nepali Congress (NC) leader Ram Sharan Mahat termed the cabinet decision outrageous, immoral and unethical. "Who gave the cabinet the right to interpret the constitution? It is the job of judiciary. The cabinet has clearly overstepped its authority," Mahat told Republica.[break]
He said that the prime minister had accepted it when the president had rendered his government to a caretaker status. "But he is now making hue and cry because he now thinks that the government legitimacy is under question," said Mahat. "This clearly shows that the prime minister´s vested interest is to prolong his stay in power."
CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel described the cabinet decision as a meaningless outcry. "This is merely an outburst after the prime minister´s plan to stay in power for an indefinite period by creating constitutional as well as political vacuum suffered a serious blow," Pokharel told Republica.
Pokharel saw no point in the government objecting to the president´s announcement as he thought that the head of state´s move had become imperative to keep the practice of democratic process intact.
He claimed that the government´s reaction was completely opportunistic. "When the president approved the budget ordinance on grounds of doctrine of necessity, the ruling side welcomed it even though it was a breach of constitution as well," Pokharel explained. "But this time, they [ruling leaders] came down heavily on president as they feared president´s call may lead to the fall of government."
Ruling UCPN (Maoist) party said the government decision is in line with the party´s decision. The party Spokesman Agni Prasad Sapkota said the cabinet decision was consistent with the party´s conclusion taken on Saturday.
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