The dispute surfaced after the main organizing committee sent an invitation letter to the office of the president inviting him as the chief guest for the festival. [break]While the Nepali Congress is in favor of inviting President Dr Yadav, UCPN (Maoist) and the UML are demanding that Speaker Nambang be invited to the festival.
Maoists have stated that the festival would not be held if the president is invited as the chief guest.
“As we have understood the president´s past roles differently, we want the festival to be inaugurated by Nembang or other acceptable figure,” said Dhanbir Oli, a member of Rukum Maoist district secretariat.
“The NC officials secretly sent an invitation letter to the president. This is a wrong,” he added. He argued that his party would protest and boycott the festival if the president is invited as the chief guest.
However, the NC stated that decision of inviting the president was taken by the main organizing committee, not by any political party.
“The invitation was sent to the president as per the decision of the main organizing committee,” said NC leader Harka Singh Khatri who is also a member of the main organizing committee.
Meanwhile, locals are worried that the disputes may stall the festival.
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