Parties ready to hold talks with the king if polls are withdrawn: Koirala
Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president, Girija Prasad Koirala, has said the seven party opposition alliance is ready to hold talks with His Majesty King Gyanendra provided the royal government calls off the municipal-level polls slated on February 8, next year.
Earlier, leaders of the seven party alliance had said they would not hold talks with the monarch unless status quo ante is maintained as of February 1, 2005.
Talking to reporters at 'Koirala Niwas' in his hometown Biratnagar Sunday morning, Koirala-- who is also the seniormost leader of the seven party alliance-- alleged that the municipal polls were being conducted by the government in order to give continuity to the direct rule of the King.
The octogenarian leader said the royal government had failed to open dialogue with the seven party opposition alliance as well as to reciprocate to the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Maoists. “Now, whatever the situation will arise, the king will have to take responsibility for that,” he added.
Koirala urged the Maoists not to resort to “physical action” against candidates who will be vying for the municipal polls. “They should launch their protests in a peaceful way,” he said. He, however, said the opposition parties would not take responsibility if the Maoists returned to the violent means. “The whole responsibility will go to the present government for failing to respond to their peace bid,” he added.
Koirala said the overwhelming desire of the Nepali people was peace and that the seven party alliance was working towards restoration of peace and democracy in the country. He said people’s aspirations for democracy couldn’t be suppressed by mobilizing the military.
The NC president said the seven party alliance was committed to strengthen the peaceful movement for the restoration of democracy in the country. “We should not pay attention to what the foreigners are saying. We should pay full attention to what people are saying,” he added.
Koirala had left Kathmandu for Biratnagar last week to take rest, according to his family sources. nepalnews.com by Dec 25 05
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