Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Stays On-Part 40

(No Compromise On Democratic Norms And Principles)
Siddhi B Ranjitkar

We have seen most of the constitutional bodies have been dysfunctional because the government could not make appointments to the vacant slots at the constitutional bodies, as the head of the state President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav refused to issue the decree on the bills the government has submitted to him for authorizing the government to make appointments to the constitutional bodies. Leaders of the NC and the CPN-UML have been putting pressure on the president not to act on any of the recommendations the government would make consequently causing the political mess. However, these opposition leaders repeatedly have said that they are not compromising on the democratic norms and principles but their actions have been against the universally accepted democratic norms and principles.

The Public Service Commission, the Election Commission, and the Supreme Court of Nepal have a number of vacant positions. They have not been able to work at the full capacities causing delay in the service delivery. In absence of the parliament, the government has no alternative but to submit the recommendations to the head of state President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav for issuing the presidential decree on the bills that would authorized the government to make appointments to these constitutional bodies but the president has not cooperated on this matter with the government, thus causing some of the political bodies dysfunctional and others operating at the lowest possible capacity.  

The Election Commission (EC) has been telling the political leaders, please build a consensus on holding the election to a new CA, remove all the illegal hurdles to the elections, and filled out the vacant positions at the EC, and let us hold elections in April or May. The EC says that it needs at least 120 days for making preparations for the elections. April and May are the only months when the EC could hold the elections throughout the country. Other months are either rainy in the hills and the plane or cold in the high hills and mountains. So, if you were to miss the April-May target then you would need to wait for another year for holding the elections. The EC has the vacant slots for the Chief election Commissioner, and some commissioners. So, it has not been able to work at its full capacity.

However, the president has put on hold all the bills on holding elections, on making appointments to the constitutional bodies, and on removing the legal obstacles to holding the elections to a new CA rather the president has been asking the political leaders to build a consensus on a national unity government following the Article 38 (1) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal of 2007. If you flip the pages of the constitution you will find that the constitution has no provisions for a so-called unity government. The political leaders coming together and agreeing on a person for a new government could not form a new government following the constitution. However, the president has been extending one deadline after another for forming a national unity government that surely goes against the constitution. So, only the democratic alternative left to all the political leaders, the government and the president is to hold elections in April/May.

Some politicians, so-called constitutional experts and lawyers might come forward and say that the constitution has no provisions for holding the elections, too.  It is true the constitution has no provision for holding elections but the Supreme Court of Nepal has ruled that elections should be held for a new CA not extending the term of the CA elected in 2008. So, the CA got dissolved on May 27, 2012 following the ruling of the Supreme Court of Nepal. The ruling of the Supreme Court of Nepal becomes the part of the Constitution. Thus, holding elections to a CA is following the rule of law.

No matter whether a national unity government is constitutional or not, it is not going to happen. The opposition coalition of the NC and the CPN-UML wants the office of the prime minister before doing anything. And the NC leaders believe that only the government led by the NC leaders would be a national unity government. In addition, the NC leaders boast that only the NC-led government could hold impartial elections. However, they did not like to say why the four NC leaders had landed in jail for making money illegally when they were ministers. The NC leaders should boast that the NC-led government had institutionalized corruption and it had almost bankrupt the country leading the shortage of everything for the common folks but making plenty for the NC leaders during the almost 20-year rule of the NC leaders in the past. Could anybody believe that the NC-led government would hold elections impartially given its corrupt background?

NC President Sushil Koirala has said that he is not compromising on the democratic norms and values for the office of prime minister. What does it means he did not bother to elaborate it but clearly he was not willing to agree on the proposal of the ruling coalition for resolving all the contentious issues of a new constitution, and agreeing on making appointments to the constitutional bodies, and setting the date for the elections to a new CA proposed by the ruling coalition of the UCPN-Maoist and the UDMF for ensuring elections to a new CA before turning over the power to Mr. Koirala. If the NC President Koirala agrees on these matters then these things would lead to elections to a new CA. Blocking the elections to a new CA, NC President Koirala wanted to save the democratic norms and values. Is it not a mockery of democracy? Then, what kind of democracy, NC President Koirala was talking about he did not want to compromise on while holding off the elections to a new CA?

The opposition coalition of the NC and the CPN-UML wanted the President to take over the power from the prime minister, and then appoint a new prime minister of a national unity government disregarding the constitutional provision. The NC and the CPN-UML leaders have been repeatedly telling the president to discharge the current government and then form a national unity government. For the information of the NC leaders boasting that they would not compromise on the democratic norms and values, dissolving the current government would mean a political coup. Do they know what would be the results of such a coup? Obviously, they don’t care about it but they just want to take the office of the prime minister. For the information of such naïve NC leaders, such a coup will surely provoke a counter coup that will dismiss the honorable president from the office. Do these NC and the CPN-UML leaders really want such political events?

The best way to save the democratic norms and values is to free President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav from the pressure of the NC and the CPN-UML leaders and let the president issue the presidential decree on the pending bills on updating elections laws, on making appointments at the constitutional bodies and on setting the date for the elections to a new CA. However, the NC and the CPN-UML don’t want to do so, and even threatened the president that if the elections were to hold without forming a NC-led government, the NC and the CPN-UML would boycott the elections.

Threatening of boycotting the elections to a new CA is understandable, as the NC President Koirala, NC Vice-President Ram Chandra Poudel, Chairman of CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal, senior leaders such as Madhav Nepal and KP Oli of the CPN-UML are all political junks. NC President Koirala was a defeated man in the elections held in 2008. NC Vice-President Ram Chandra Poudel ran for the office of prime minister 18 times without winning and ultimately becoming a laughingstock; Chairman of CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal was prime minister for six months but he did nothing except for drawing salaries and riding the state-run vehicles; Madhav Nepal and KP Oli of the CPN-UML are also defeated men in the lections held in 2008. They talk nothing but political nonsense.

How could these guys dare again go to the people for mandate? For them, the only way to power is through the presidential coup. So, they have been pressing the president for discharging the current prime minister, and then forming a NC-led national unity government. What kind of unity these guys are foreseeing breaking the duly and democratically elected government only to form a NC–led government?

The NC and the CPN-UML leaders have been threatening the prime minister to hit the roads if the prime minister doesn’t quit the office. The prime minister has clearly told the NC and the CPN-UML leaders: let us make a deal on all contentious issues concerning the constitution, set a date for the elections to a new CA, and remove all the legal hurdles to holding the elections to a new CA. In other words, I want to make sure that the elections to a new CA are held in April or May 2013 before I quit the office. I am responsible for holding the elections; so, I cannot quit the office at whim of the NC and the CPN-UML leaders.” However, the NC and the CPN-UML leaders neither could take the offer of the prime minister nor hit the roads so far. These opposition leaders sometimes speak out so bluntly as if they are going to launch a massive street protest tomorrow but that tomorrow has not come, yet. We need to watch when it will come and change the political scene drastically.

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has been quietly supporting the opposition coalition of the NC and the CPN-UML asking the political leaders to form a national unity government for holding elections to a new CA. The president has not been able to discharge the prime minister as the NC and the CPN-UML leaders wanted because he knows that it is an unconstitutional move. He did not want to clear off all the hurdles to holding the elections to a new CA, as the NC and the CPN-UML leaders don’t want the current government holding elections. These guys naively say that the current government has no authority to hold the elections once again proving that they are really political junks. They repeatedly say that they are not for compromising on the democratic norms and values but ironically they don’t want to go to the polls for electing a new CA. President Dr Yadav has been supporting the political junks risking the real democracy the Nepalis have gained so far. If the president really does not want to step out of the constitution as he used to say, he needs to clear off the pending bills on elections and on other related issues pending at his office, and needs to lead the country to the elections to a CA, and save the democracy from the political junks that say they are not compromising on democratic norms and values but want the office of prime minister going beyond the constitution. There is not an alternative to this move for the democracy to preserve.

The EC has said that it needs 120 days to hold the Elections. If the elections were to hold in April or May we have still sufficient time to hold the elections. The president should forget about the formation of a new national unity government and clear off all the hurdles to holding the elections. Every logical-thinking person knows that a national unity government is unconstitutional. No matter what the NC and CPN-UML do, the ruling coalition is not going to leave the office for the NC to take it. Dragging on holding the elections to a new CA in the name of forming a national unity government is too dangerous for the president that wants to write his name in the golden letters in the history of Nepal. If the president were serious to write his name in golden letters then he needed to cooperate with the current government on holding the elections to a new CA, and let the elected CA compete the crating of a new constitution, and then promulgate it and institutionalize the federalism and federal states with the real democracy not the democracy the NC and CPN-UML wanted to.

“And I say the next two days would be crucial to determine the nation’s future polity,” said NC President Sushil Koirala on December 22, 2012. He said if the consensus could not be forged within few days, the NC would begin a decisive movement to give the country an outlet. Stating that the prime ministerial position was not the big deal for him, NC President Sushil Koirala said, “I will never compromise on the democratic norms and principles for the sake of prime ministerial position.” Challenging the UCPN-Maoist for not daydreaming to capture the state, NC President Koirala said the victory of the democrats would be inevitable once they begin the movement. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, December 22, 2012)

The CPN-Maoist said it boycotted the meeting of political parties called by President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav on December 24, 2012, as the head of the state tried to find out the political solution of existing crisis by consulting the top leaders of four major political forces only. Holding the leadership of major parties such as UCPN-Maoist, NC and CPN-UML, and UDMF accountable for the CA debacle, the CPN-Maoist charged that they were unable to make right decision and their conclusion cannot be taken for the national consensus. In a press statement, Spokesperson for the CPN-Maoist Pampha Bhusal said that her party was concerned with the President’s latest act of limiting the politics within the key three parties and UDMF only instead of seeking out a multiparty-political consensus. The CPN-Maoist further dubbed the President meeting the parties of dissolved CA as undemocratic and futile effort. Saying his India visit at the time the country is reeling under political crisis and uncertainty is irrelevant and irresponsible, the CPN-Maoist urged the President to cancel it. Earlier today (December 24, 2012), the President had summoned the parties that represented in the dissolved CA at his Sheetal Niwas office, and urged them to forge the political consensus and suggest him the ways to resolve the existing crisis. (Source: THT ONLINE, December 24, 2012)

On Monday, December 24, 2012, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav extended the deadline for the parties for the formation of a national unity government for six days. Then, the parties have to approach the head of the state by December 29. The deadline for the parties to agree on a consensus prime ministerial candidate has been extended until Saturday upon the request of the parties, reads the statement issued by the Office of the President on Monday. Invoking the Article 38 (1) of the interim constitution the head of the state had called the parties on November 23, 2012 to agree on a consensus prime minister to hold fresh CA polls. Earlier today, the President had summoned the parties that represented in the dissolved CA, and urged them to forge a consensus at the earliest and recommend him the ways to resolve the existing political and constitutional crisis. The President flew to India for a six-day visit after 3:30 pm this afternoon. (Source: THT ONLINE, December 24, 2012)

Hours before he embarked on a six-day trip to India on December 24, 2012, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav invited all the political parties that made up the dissolved CA and told the leaders that the process to form a government through a consensus was still under way and that it would continue until the parties reach a compromise on this matter. “The process, which started on November 23, to form a new government on the basis of political consensus is still going on and parties should accomplish the task at the earliest,” said President Dr Yadav as he read out a written speech to the leaders of the political parties at Sheetal Niwas this morning. Today’s meeting was a little different in a manner that the moment the leaders assembled, the President delivered his speech, not giving a chance to the leaders to put forth their views. “I believe that there will not be any hindrances to parties’ endeavor for consensus in my absence. I wish the parties will be successful to reach consensus before my return from India,” said President Dr Yadav. The President emphasized in his speech that only a consensus government could hold fresh CA elections and that the process to reach a deal on this matter was still on, said President’s Press Adviser Rajendra Dahal. The President suggested to the parties to focus on four points: first, promulgate a new constitution by ensuring fresh CA election; second, form a government under Article 38 (1); third, seek ways to make appointments in the constitutional bodies; and fourth, seek any other democratic principles, precedents or ways which the President could employ to end the constitutional and political deadlock while seeking consensus. Stating that the parties were very much aware of the fact that the fresh polls declared for November 22 could not materialize, the President said, “The parties are well informed that formation of a consensus government, fixing of date for the election and preparations for the same, addressing constitutional difficulties and making appointments in the constitutional bodies are the immediate requirements to ensure the election in April. The President also reminded the parties that the country has been facing difficulties, as the constitutional and judicial bodies are running out of top-level officials and economy has been hit hard since the demise of the CA. “The preamble, Articles 38 (1), 43 and 57 and other clauses of the Interim Constitution call for formation of the Council of Ministers, running of the government and addressing other complexities in the time of transition on the basis of politics of consensus and cooperation,” said the President, adding: “So I understand the country’s transitional government system will be run on the same basis.” (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, December 24, 2012)

On Monday, December 24, 2012, Prime Minister Bhattarai also a vice-chairman of the UCPN-Maoist in his proposal forwarded to NC President Koirala has clearly said that he would quit only after the opposition parties first agree on a package deal on various issues concerning the peace process and fresh CA polls and then join his government for some time to transform it into a national consensus government. In the message sent informally to NC President Koirala, the prime minister has proposed NC President Koirala to first agree on arriving at a consensus on holding fresh CA polls by mid-May, resolving legal and constitutional hurdles relating to the polls, filling out vacant positions at various constitutional bodies and completing the remaining tasks of peace process including forming the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and settling rank determination of Maoist combatants, who have chosen to join the national army, according to the prime minister’s aide Bishwadeep Pandey. "The prime minister has proposed to form a national consensus government in two stages: First, transform the current government into a national consensus government with the participation of the opposition parties for some time and then form a new national consensus government under the NC’s leadership to hold the poll," said one of the NC leaders, who is entrusted to convey his proposal to NCs leadership. In his proposal, the prime minister has also clearly told that the Maoist party would not accept NC or CPN-UML taking over the government if they were to disagree with his proposal. Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai has also proposed an alternative government under the leadership of the UDMF or small parties or an independent person with political background if the opposition parties were not willing to accept his proposal for a consensus. Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai had called a group of NC youth leaders on Monday morning to convey his conditions to the NC president. The meeting with the NC’s youth leaders came a day after the prime minister publicly threatened to boycott opposition parties if they boycotted him. (Source: myrepublica.com, December 25, 2012)

Top NC leaders today said that Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai floated the proposal for forming a national consensus government in two phases with the motive to come clean on his tainted image. The Prime Minister has committed one blunder after another for the sake of his chair and wanted to set his agenda correct by making the NC and other opposition parties: witness of his past wrong deeds. Moreover, he is motivated by his personal ego that made him hesitant to give up the power they said, adding, that his latest proposal made it clear he did not want to hold the CA polls in April-May. NC President Sushil Koirala, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula unambiguously said that the PM’s latest move was motivated by his personal interest. “The PM is making the country the hostage of his personal ego,” they said addressing the concluding ceremony of the four-day gathering of the NC’s regional presidents in Thali, Danchhi. “PM Bhattarai has made a tremendous mistake on May 27 by announcing the CA polls unilaterally. He has not been able to forge a consensus on the polls declared second time by his Cabinet. So, the NC cannot honor his blunder by joining his government,” said Sitaula. Sitaula said if the PM stuck to his latest proposal, he would add up his spoiled image with the serious allegation against him. “It means the history will record his next wrong move that Bhattarai prevented the fresh polls for the sake of his personal ego,” he said. Warning the PM not to obstruct the consensus process, Koirala said the party would begin a decisive movement by consulting with other opposition parties. “The NC will never join the incumbent government, rather it will go for decisive movement,” he added. Deuba said, “The NC even boycotted a program organized to celebrate NC founding leader Kishunjee’s birth anniversary on Sunday because the program was attended by the PM. How can the Congress join this government if it is avoiding his all activities for his wrong decisions. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, December 25, 2012)

The ruling coalition prefers UCPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda to NC President Sushil Koirala for a consensus prime minister, said Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai’s chief political advisor Devendra Paudel. The NC president cannot be accepted as the new prime minister removing Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, according to Paudel. The ruling parties are ready to put forth the Maoist chairman as an alternate candidate to lead a new government and resolve the existing crisis, he said. Claiming that Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai still entertains “majority support” from the dissolved CA, Paudel challenged the opposition to opt for a referendum on choosing the name of a new prime minister. (Source: THT ONLINE, December 25, 2012)

President of NC Sushil Koirala said that he would not kneel down to be the prime minister of the national unity government. Addressing a three-day national gathering of the regional presidents on Tuesday, December 25, 2012, Koirala said, “For me, being prime minister is not a big thing.” Addressing the conference, Vice-president of NC Ram Chandra Poudel said that the NC wouldn’t join the incumbent government for the formation of a national unity government at any cost. Speaking at the assembly senior leader of NC Sher Bahadur Deuba claimed that his party wouldn’t kneel down and join hands with the caretaker government to form a national unity government. Deuba went on saying that they would hit the streets or announce stringent protest if the leadership of the national unity government were not given to the NC and fresh elections not held in April/May. (Source: THT ONLINE, December 25, 2012)

According to spokesperson for the FDRA Prem Bahadur Singh, they have proposed that the current caretaker government led by Dr Baburam Bhattarai should be transformed into a national consensus government as the first option; second option is to form a national consensus government led by a leader from within the FDRA; third option is to promulgate a new constitution by the revived CA accommodating the issues that have already been resolved and then to form a new government under the leadership of the opposition party; and the fourth option is to form a national consensus government under the leadership of an independent person but also comprising political parties. (Source: myrepublica.com, December 26, 2012)

Talking to the reporters at his residence on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, NC President Sushil Koirala said that his party would not accept the restoration of the CA because it was just the UCPN-Maoist's trick to deceive people. Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda also could not be agreed on for the next prime minister, he said. According to him, the NC was open to both talks and agitation or any constitutional measure to give a political outlet to the country. (Source: RSS/ thehimalayantimes.com, December 26, 2012)

Speaking at the news conference held by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Sarlahi in Lalbandi on December 26, 2012, Chairperson of NEFIN Raj Kumar Lekhi said that the president and the so-called four major political parties were not in favor of timely elections in the country. Chairman Lekhi said, “Be it prime minister or president, they want to remain in office for two-three more years as they do not know whether they can be in the same post even after election. It is therefore they do not want to conduct election at present.” Coming down heavily on top leaders, he said, “Major leaders are afraid of election as they will be powerless and post less if elections take place soon. People are so disenchanted with these leaders that they would surely express their anger through ballot boxes.” Lekhi went on saying that the frequent calls from the president to form a consensus government were not only unconstitutional but also even impractical. The president has been simply following what the four parties are saying. He has said that after the dissolution of the CA all parties have equal status, and the president by just talking with the four major parties is denigrating other parties in the country. “Nepali Congress and UML are incapable to topple Bhattarai-led government, but if Unified CPN-Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal intends then the incumbent government can be dissolved in a minute,” Lekhi added. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, December 26, 2012)

At the meeting held by the Federal Democratic Republican Alliance (FDRA): an alliance of the ruling UCPN-Maoist, the UDMF, and some small political parties at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Thursday, December 27, 2012, the alliance concluded that if the major parties were to fail in reaching a consensus on a package deal by January 9, 2013 then the fresh polls could not be held in April/May. The meeting also made a decision on transforming the Bhattarai-led government into a consensus one as proposed earlier; if it were to fail then the ruling alliance would put forward the name of another candidate from among the members of the ruling coalition. If the parties do not agree to these options then there is no alternative but to go for a neutral government, according to Laxman Lal Karna: Vice-chairman of Sadbhawana Party. (Source: thehimalayantimes.com, December 27, 2012)

After failing to appoint judges at the Supreme Court of Nepal, the Judicial Council (JC) is now seeking alternative ways to ease dispensation of justice. As the apex court is struggling with lack of judges, JC is in a bid to empower appellate and district courts so that they can exercise writ jurisdiction. “We have been considering ways to create an environment under which people can move appellate and district courts for adjudication under various writ jurisdictions so that the crisis facing the judiciary can be addressed,” Khem Narayan Dhungana: member of the JC told ‘The Himalayan Times’. According to him, there is a need for the strict management of cases and time and setting a ceiling of number of lawyers during the hearing, which may help address the current crisis because the chief justice along with six apex court justices are not sufficient to tackle the huge workload at the apex court. There are at least 14,000 cases pending at the apex court, of which some 3,000-writ petitions were filed under the extra-ordinary jurisdiction, and more than 1,000 writ petitions are registered every year at the apex court. (Source: thehimalayantimes.com, December 27, 2012)

Addressing the 39th national conference of Nepal Jaycees in Hetauda on December 27, 2012, NC President Sushil Koirala said political parties would reach an agreement soon. “All the parties will have to come together to resolve the deadlock and that day is not very far away,” Koirala said. He said elections should be held by June 2013 to institutionalize democracy. Calling the political deadlock the worst chapter in the history of Nepal, he said the Maoists differ on agreed decisions and this was making the task very difficult. He further said that the NC has been initiating moves to form less federal sates. “We cannot take the burden of a huge number of states,” he added. (Source: thehimalayantimes.com, December 27, 2012)

Speaking at the news conference held by the Nepal Press Union Illam Chapter in Mangalbare on Thursday, December 28, 2012, NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC has claimed that the NC-led national unity government is a must to hold fresh CA polls. “Formation of national unity government led by NC is necessary to hold free and fair election in the country,” said KC at press meet held by the Nepal Press Union Illam Chapter. Leader KC further claimed that the nation would slide into conflict if fresh CA polls were not held in April-May. “If consensus is not reached within a week, elections cannot be held in April-May, then, the country will slide into conflict,” said leader KC. He made it clear that the NC would not agree on reinstatement of the CA, participation in the current government and substances of constitution. 'Congress (NC) will not go to the government by compromising the party ideals for power. However, government leadership from outside the ruling alliance could be discussed', he further said, adding the NC would not go back from its claim for government. KC ruled out any chance to join the incumbent government and warned that the Baburam Bhattarai-led government would be swept away through struggle. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, December 27, 2012)

“The biggest lie in the world at this time is to say that I am a hindrance to the much-desired political consensus. In fact the opposition, which has been taking undue media advantage, is spreading a completely wrong message,” said Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai while addressing an event held to lay the foundation stone for the Upper Madi Hydro Project in Sildujure, Kaski on December 28, 2012. “The opposition rant (and rave) is nothing but a ploy to besmirch my reputation. If there has been no consensus despite the parties’ claims that they are quite close to it, then there is no point accusing me of playing the spoilsport.” “I have given my commitment that I will quit the moment there is consensus. Opposition is blaming me for its failure,” said Bhattarai. “I have my resignation letter in my pocket. The moment the parties forge consensus, I will put in my papers.” Stating that he has no other concern except for ensuring successful completion of peace and constitution-making processes, Prime Minister Bhattarai said he wished for an early consensus among parties. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, December 28, 2012)

On December 28, 2012, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has no right to formally call for the formation of a consensus government and extend the deadline for the same. He said the Council of Ministers has already reacted to the President’s move, and therefore, the Head of State should desist from acting further on the issue. The Cabinet had termed the presidential call for the formation of a consensus government under Article 38 (1) of the Interim Constitution ‘unconstitutional.’ Stating that he will not be an obstacle to consensus, Dr Bhattarai said all the doors for consensus were open. “Revival of the Constituent Assembly is the last option. The first option is to hold fresh elections by forging consensus,” Bhattarai said at an event held by Tarai Madhes Democratic Party on its fifth anniversary. “Those who aspire to lead the government should be ready to strike a deal in a package.” (Source: thehimalayantimes.com, December 28, 2012)

Addressing his party’s First Tamsaling Rajya Committee Conference held in Dhulikhel on December 28, 2012, Chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Vaidhya said that both the President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai were responsible for bringing the current constitutional crisis to the country. Vaidhya said, “Both president and prime minister have lost their status as the country is experiencing constitutional vacuum.” He further said no person or institution could claim the legality in the given scenario. “The big three parties are bargaining just for power,” Vaidhya said. Offering solution to the prevailing crisis, Vaidhya said that only a round table conference could provide the country with a way out of the current crisis, not the fresh polls or CA resurrection. He reiterated the need for a new revolution if people’s aspirations and wishes were not met. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, December 28, 2012)

Opening the Democratic Professors’ Union’s Third National Conference in Nepalgunj on December 28, 2012, NC President Sushil Koirala said that he would not compromise on democratic principles with anybody for the sake of bagging the prime ministerial post. NC President Koirala said that his party would not join Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai-led government at any cost. “NC will not compromise on democracy, press freedom and rule of law,” he said. The NC president called on the UCPN-Maoist not to play with his party frequently on democracy and democratic ideals. Coming down heavily on the UCPN-Maoist, NC President Koirala accused the Maoists of trying to capture the state power. Stating that the incumbent government was violating the Interim Constitution, NC President warned that his party would soon start an agitation for its ouster. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, December 28, 2012)

Talking to the reporters at the Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan on December 28, 2012, Minister for Information and Communications Raj Kishor Yadav said that the incumbent government would not surrender to the opposition in the name of consensus. Stating the stance taken by the opposition parties on building a consensus would not be acceptable to the government at any cost; Minister Yadav said that the incumbent government was formed following the constitution. He made it clear that crowds in the streets could not topple the government, as it was not formed on anyone's mercy. The Minister said that the government is a facilitator and not an obstacle to a consensus and added, "It is committed to hold election by mid-May.” (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, December 28, 2012)

December 29, 2012