'Govt should take initiative to bring Chand to talks'

PALPA, March 17: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday accused Prime Minister KP Oli of sedition for signing a controversial agreement with the secession campaigner CK Raut, the leader of the Alliance for Independent Madhes (AIM).

According to him, the government by signing the deal has approved and encouraged murder, rape and other crimes. "The government and the AIM leaders have been interpreting the deal in different ways. Raut has already announced that Madhes has become a separate nation and the government seems to have no objection with the statement. This is sedition," said former Prime Minister Deuba.

Not just that, he also accused the government of protecting those involved in last year's rape and murder of Nirmala Panta of Kanchanpur. He warned that his party might resort to obstructing the parliament meetings "if the government does not mend its ways."

Speaking at a press conference organized by Nepal Press Union, Palpa, NC President Deuba urged the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) of Netra Bikram Chand to forward for talks. "The CPN must give up its criminal activities and come forward for talks. The government should take the initiative to bring the Maoist party to the negotiating table," he added.

He said, since Nepali Congress is nearing elections, it is natural for groups and sub-groups to surface, but discounted the possibility of the party embracing the "Hindu nation" agenda. Deuba also said that he does not take seriously the growing activities of former king Gyanendra.

He did not stop there. He criticized the government for its attempt to curb press freedom through the introduction of new laws.

 
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