PM Koirala should resign: Bhattarai
In a sign that the Maoist leadership is fast losing their patience against
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-M's senior leader Dr Baburam
Bhattarai has said the octogenarian leader should immediately resign from
his post in order to give "a political outlet" to the confusing situation
that prevails in the country.
Addressing a programme organised by the Kaski chapter of the Maoist
aligned Revolutionary Journalist's Association (RJA) in Pokhara today that
after the PM tenders his resignation to the speaker "the door for the
formation of a new government would immediately spring open".
This is the first time that a top Maoist leader has publicly asked for the
resignation of PM Koirala, making clear of their discontent towards him
and his party. The remarks also come at a time when Nepali Congress and
another mainstream left CPN-UML have decided not to join the new
government and have set preconditions - dissolution of Maoist people's
army, and youth organisation YCL - for their support to a government led
by Maoists.
Bhattarai was also of the opinion that Nepali Congress has blocked the
political outlet by belittling the election result which came in favor of
his party CPN-Maoists.
At a time when it is being said that the king is expecting that he would
be afforded some sort of ceremonial role, Bhattarai said that his party
won't accept any form of monarchy. He also lambasted the media for
misquoting his earlier statement. He said that he never meant that the
party will allow him to remain as a "cultural king", but had instead said
that if abdicated then he would be given all the rights enjoyed by any
citizen of the country.
Bhattari said that no challenge remains for the implementation of republic
and that the country would be declared a republic by May 28.
"But if the King still doesn't agree leave the palace after this
declaration then force would be used against him," he said, adding that
along with the institution of monarchy the pro-monarchist would also bite
the dust, clearly hinting at the recent statement of Kamal Thapa that the
country would face a grave accident if it is declared a republic. nepalnews.com ag May 13 08
