Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Stays On-Part 44

(Close Differences Not Deepen Division)
Siddhi B Ranjitkar

When our nation needs a unity, when all political parties need to close their differences, when we need to reduce divisions, the opposition coalition of the NC and the CPN-UML is engaging in the street protests to confront the strong ruling coalition of the UCPN-Maoist and the UDMF. The opposition leaders should understand that the nation is on the way to federalism. The nation has reached the point of no return from the federalism but the opposition coalition has been trying to swim against he strong current of the determination of the majority of the people to institutionalize the federalism. So, hitting the streets, the leaders of the NC and the CPN-UML have exposed their intention to stop the clock and probably even to put it back. Our history has the record of the terrorist-minded rulers had stopped the development clock for 240 years but now none could do so anymore as the Nepalis have been strong enough to face any challenges posed by the despots. So, Mr. Sushil Koirala: president of NC, please forget about taking the office of prime minister, and join the current government, then either hold the elections to a new CA or revive the old one to promulgate a new constitution.

The opposition leaders need to understand that they could not do what the despot Prithvi Shah had done in 1767, and set the rule of despots for more than two centuries, as Nepalis today have been strong enough to face the challenges of any leaders that posed to be despots. The Ranas came to power in 1847 sidelining the Shahs only to suppress the people to the extent possible and had robbed the people for 104 years. Then came the four patriots to voice against the tyrants, and sacrificed their lives in 1942, and encouraged the Nepalis in general to rise against the tyrants. Consequently, Nepalis overthrew apparently the mighty Ranas in 1951, and turned over the power to the NC that had made the Shahs strong and let them come out of the palace cocoon to rule the people again. Consequently, going against the people’s will, another despot Mahendra Shah stepped out of the palace and grabbed the power sending the political leaders either to jail or to exile in India or even killed most of the influential second-tier NC leaders, and put on hold the socio-economic development process in the 1960s for another 30 years. Nepalis brought down the then head of Panchayat: Birendra Shah that had enjoyed flying over the Himalayas for two winter months every year keeping the people poor, and turned over the power to the NC and the CPN-UML leaders in 1990s but these power junkies fought as stray dogs for power for another twenty years creating the environment for another mindless man called Gyanendra Shah to take over in 2005. By that time, the NC and the CPN-UML had been so weak they could not do anything. So, they went to the rebelling Maoists for help to bring down the Gyanendra Shah from power. Maoists came to Kathmandu en mass, finished off the Gyanendra Shah in 19 days in April 2006 whereas the NC and the CPN-UML pretended that they did it.

Again Nepalis in general and the Maoists in particular turned over the power to the President of NC Girija Prasad Koirala hoping that he would lead the country to the right direct and opened up the path to the fast track socio-economic development. However, Girija could not rise above his old mindset and did not change the constitution of his party that had the provision for the constitutional monarchy whereas the seven-party alliance including the NC and the CPN-UML had signed off the 12-point understanding in which they agreed to declare Nepal a republic. However, Girija and his party wanted to keep the monarchy, and tried to be neo-rulers rather than democratic rulers, and he did not want to hold elections to a CA for crafting a new constitution and promulgating it. Then, the Madheshis launched the movement to force Girija to agree on making federal and inclusive Nepal indicating that Nepalis were no more accepting the old exclusive rule of the so-called leaders. Despite the constant pressure put by the Maoists, Girija managed to linger on for another two years before holding the elections to a CA in 2008. Girija wanted to forget to hold the elections as he did forget his promises to the people in the past but nurtured his relatives and friends at the cost of the people in general.

The elections to the CA in 2008 made the Maoists the largest party and the Madheshis the fourth largest party, the NC and CPN-UML the second and third respectively. If the Maoists had been a little bit pragmatic they could have made a coalition with the Madheshi alliance called UDMF, and get their candidate elected to the president and the candidate of the UDMF to the vice-president in May 2008. Consequently, the presidency went to the candidate of the NC making difficult for the Maoists to manage the future political course.

Under the heavy pressure of all political parties, Girija deleted the provision for the constitutional monarchy from the constitution of his party, and Girija as the prime minister proposed to remove the monarchy at the CA and declare Nepal a federal democratic republic in the first session of the CA in 2008. Out of the 601 members of the CA only four voted against the federal democratic republic of Nepal. They were the members of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal fed by the palace people.

Girija did not want to quit the office of the prime minister even after his party went to the second position after the elections to the CA, but he wanted to continue, and linger on the crafting of a new constitution. However, under the pressure of the Maoists and the Madheshis, Girija ultimately gave in and quit the office of prime minister for the Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist to form a new government embracing all the political parties but the NC refused to join the government breaching the 12-point understanding, and the NC started off the politics of the majority rule rather than the consensus rule following the Interim Constitution of Nepal of 2007. Even now, the NC and the CPN-UML have been trying to snatch power from the coalition of the UCPN-Maoist and the UDMF knowing that the coalition of the UCPN-Maoist and the UDMF holds the majority.

I am just writing this brief historical background to inform the public what the NC did in the 1950s, and the NC and the CPN-UML in 1990s and 2000s going against the people’s mandate. Currently, they are again trying to repeat the history but this time they would not be successful. However, they are hitting the streets rather than joining the current government and going to elections to a new CA or reviving the old CA for competing the crafting of a new constitution, and then promulgating it.

The NC and the CPN-UML leaders and leaders of other small political parties following them to take the nonsense political issues to the streets and cause the pains to the people are sure to create an environment that will lead Nepal to break into pieces. If we just read the above gist of the historical background, we have seen that the NC had created the environment that made Mahendra Shah possible to grab power easily, and introduce the system that lasted for 30 years retarding the socio-economic development of the Nepalis in general. Then, the NC and the CPN-UML in 1990s and 2000s again created the environment for the rebels to take up arms on the one hand, and for the Gyanendra Shah to grab power on the other hand. Now, they are again trying to create an environment that will break the country into pieces in the worst case of scenario.

The NC and the CPN-UML leaders have to say to the people what they are going to do if they get the office of prime minister if they really want the support of the people for their movement. However, they could not put forward any concrete plan on what they are going to do. They have made vague charges of the current government being authoritarian, corrupt, and not building a consensus on a new government. Concerning the authoritarian and the corruption, the NC and the CPN-UML leaders should chose the legal means to topple the government and send those corrupt ministers to jail, as the four NC leaders have gone to for corruption but they are choosing to go to the streets and make the noises that nobody wants to hear. Every sensible person closes his/her ears when the NC and the CPN-UML leaders make such illogical noises. Concerning the building of a consensus on a new government, they cannot blame only the government they need to share the blame for not building a consensus, as consensus means all the leaders agreeing on something.

NC President Sushil Koirala would not be able to take the office of prime minister launching such a senseless street protest but he could do so going to the elections to a new CA. However, Mr. Koirala erroneously believes that choosing the elections will not ensure his position as a prime minister because he is not sure of wining a seat in the CA not to mention his party garnering the majority in the CA; if he chooses the protest movement then he could walk into the office of prime minister with ease, as he again erroneously believes that the people in general will rise up against the current government. However, Mr. Koirala should know that the majority of the people are behind the coalition of the UCPN-Maoist and the UDMF.

Joining the current government, Mr. Koirala needs to close the differences between the ruling coalition and the opposition coalition agreeing on holding elections to a new CA that will complete the crafting of a new constitution and then promulgate it. However, Mr. Koirala instead of joining the current government took his cadres to streets deepening the division between the ruling and the opposition parties causing the uncertainty of the future course of politics. If Mr. Koirala is really for earning even a little bit of gratitude of the Nepalis, you need to do everything to complete the crafting of a new constitution and institutionalize the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal otherwise you will be one of the worst political actors in the history of Nepal.

So, if the NC President Koirala really wants to usher Nepal to a federal democratic republic and make it prosperous he has no choice but to join the current government. Mr. Koirala if you are politically sensible person, please don’t go down to the level of the insensible political leader called Chitra Bahadur KC: chairman of Rastriya Jana Morcha that has been calling on all Nepalis not to go for federalism, as he believes that it will break the country into pieces. Chairman KC is so naïve that he does not understand that federalism is the only way to keep Nepal in a single piece. Mr. Koirala also knows that the country has no choice but to go for federalism. So, Mr. Koirala please send your subordinates to join the current government and then either revive the old CA or hold elections to a new CA, and complete the crafting of a new constitution, and promulgate it institutionalizing the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Unfortunately, Mr. Koirala is sending his cadres to march in the streets, to hold a rally in the name of protest movement, and to do the funniest thing: perform the funereal rites to Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai on the streets. If you are Hindu believer then you are doing a great favor to Dr. Bhattarai performing his funeral rites when he is still alive. Dr Bhattarai after death will not have the privilege of such funeral rites as he has no son to perform such rites but he got it when he is still alive from the cadres of the NC and the CPN-UML pretending to be his sons. Mock funeral rites to Dr Bhattarai are in fact a blessing in disguise to him. He has it when he is still alive and needs not worry about the funeral rites after death. After death, he can go straight to the world of Yama Raj and enjoy the eternal cosmic life there if you believe in the Hindu myth.

Unfortunately, Mr. Sushil Koirala, you are sending your cadres to Dailekh and other districts to announce the third people’s movement. Now, you are going too wild in the remote areas whereas the Maoists are enjoying the cozy ministerial chairs in Kathmandu. So, you are hell-bent to spoil all the achievements of the people’s movement. You won’t be able to command a people’s movement simply sending cadres such as Ram Sharan Mahat of NC and Bam Dev Gautam of CPN-UML to Dailekh to launch the so-called third people’s movement. You need the people’s dedication but it is not coming because you are on the wrong path.

Senior leader of NC Sher Bahadur Deuba has threatened to topple the government. He knows that his party and he could not topple the current government but he enjoys telling it to the reporters that he would topple the government. He would have done so if he could a long ago but he could not, and so he has been left unemployed. He is tying to find the Prime Ministerial job nothing else but he needs to know that he is not going to get it in his lifetime again.

You all guys: opposition or ruling should discard the hatred and mistrust against each other and work together for the future of our nation. To this end, the opposition should stop any street protests launched with the intention of grabbing the power, rather sit together with the ruling parties and form a consensus government. Then, either you should hold elections to a new CA that will decide your fate and the fate of Nepalis in general or simply revive the CA to complete the crafting of a new constitution and promulgate it. You guys should know that none could stop the country from going to federalism and ending the central authority. So, your attempt on trying to stop the federalism will surely be futile. You might be able to linger on not materializing federalism for a few more years; you cannot do anything more than that.

I am repeating that you should follow the constitutional means of taking over power in other words go to elections and receive mandate from the people. There is no other way to take the office of prime minister. So, your current protests to tear down the government would be futile and confusing to the people, and none of logical and democratic-minded people would accept your way of dealing the current political situation. Going beyond the Constitution and following the advice of the NC and the CPN-UML in 2009, Head of State President Dr Ram Baran Yadav directly wrote a letter to the then Chief of Army Staff Rukmangad Katuwal fired by the then Prime Minister Prachanda for his involvement in the politics provoking strong protests from all the people for the rule of law, and weakening the position of the head of state. President Dr Yadav has learned a lesson from that event. Currently, he has not listened to the NC and the CPN-UML leaders telling him to fire the prime minister and appoint a new prime minister, as both the actions go against the constitutional provisions.

President Ram Baran Yadav on January 14, 2013 asked Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai what was happening with the election that the Bhattarai’s government has declared. Prime Minister Bhattarai had called on President Yadav this evening to brief the latter on the current political scenario and ruling alliance’s decision that the coalition was not for extension of deadline for consensus anymore. “Your government on May 27 announced fresh election for November 22 but failed to hold the polls. And again the government declared polls for April. The Election Commission has said that it would not be able to hold polls in April if legal hurdles were not cleared by the end of the Poush (January 13). What is the government doing and what is the future of fresh polls?” President’s press adviser Rajendra Dahal quoted the Head of State as telling the prime minister. Press adviser Dahal said the President also expressed his serious concern about spiraling constitutional and political confusion. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s personal secretary Bishwodeep Pandey said that the President and the prime minister discussed current political situation, and that the prime minister briefed the President about the decisions the Federal Democratic Republic Alliance made this morning. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, January 15, 2013)

As the latest deadline set by the President to reach a compromise ended on January 14, 2013, the Federal Democratic Republic Alliance (FDRA), a league of parties in the ruling coalition, decided that the alliance would request the Head of State to stop what it called a ‘futile process’. According to Minister for Information and Communications Raj Kishor Yadav, FDRA will urge President Ram Baran Yadav to switch to something else which could be a fresh process to revive the dissolved Constituent Assembly. “We will let the President know tomorrow that the ruling parties will not ask him to extend the deadline again and will not take part in the futile process any more,” said Minister Yadav. “The onus to forge consensus lies on political parties. The process begun by the President has failed to bear fruit, even as his ninth call to reach compromise ended today. So the President does not need to keep on prodding the parties with the same meaningless process.” (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, January 15, 2013)

After parties squandered the latest five days — 53 days in total — given them to reach a compromise, President Ram Baran Yadav on January 15, 2013 told them to continue their efforts to forge a consensus but did not set any deadline. A press release issued by the Office of the President today said the President asked leaders of 18 political parties to translate their commitment into action and forge a consensus as soon as possible, aiming at fresh Constituent Assembly election. Leaders of 18 political parties that were part of the dissolved CA had reached Shital Niwas today to discuss political scenario with President Yadav. After failing to reach a deal after several deadlines set by President had elapsed since November 23, leaders repeatedly sought more time and he obliged. Today, the leaders urged President Yadav not to set a deadline, and he obliged again. When asked about Tuesday’s meeting between President Ram Baran Yadav and political parties, President’s press adviser Rajendra Dahal told THT that the Head of State felt bit relieved after ‘parties took the responsibility for forging consensus’. According to press adviser Dahal, the President told the leaders that if the parties failed to reach a compromise any time soon, he will have to tell the public why he initiated the government formation process under Article 38 (1) on November 23 and what happened thereafter. Press adviser Dahal added that the President, however, would let the leaders know in advance what he will be telling his countrymen. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, January 15, 2013)

Nine parties in opposition, including the NC and the CPN-UML on January 15, 2013 made public their 21-day protest programs beginning on January 19. A meeting of the opposition parties held at the CPN-UML headquarters in Balkhu concluded that the Baburam Bhattarai-led government had turned into authoritarian, and decided to hit the streets to dislodge it. The meeting blamed the government for repeatedly violating the law of the land, misusing the state coffers, abusing power and blocking the process to form a consensus government. The opposition parties, however, said they would continue holding talks with the ruling alliance on the sidelines of their protests in a bid to form a consensus government under the Article 38 (1) of the Interim Constitution following the call of the President. “This meeting has decided to pile strong pressure against the anti-people, anti-national and totalitarian activities of the caretaker government. We call on all pro-democratic political parties and people to join our movement,” read a statement issued after the today’s meeting. The opposition parties had launched their protests against the government two months ago, but suspended their agitation after President Yadav made a formal call to the parties to form a national consensus government following the Article 38 (1). “If the government does not step down during our first phase of agitation, we will announce stronger protests,” said NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel. (Source: HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE, January 15, 2013)

Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gacchedar has said that the nationwide agitation announced by the NC and the CPN-UML to oust Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai from power would make no difference. Talking briefly to media persons at Biratnagar airport on January 16, 2013, he claimed that the threat of a movement by the NC and the CPN-UML would not make any impact on the government. The incumbent prime minister would not resign at any cost until and unless both the parties agree on a package deal, he added. Welcoming the decision of the President to do away with the deadlines in seeking a political consensus, he said the responsibility for a consensus has now fallen upon the shoulders of the national political parties. He said that the parties have failed to forge a consensus as a result of the politics of negation. "Now the situation is a conflict between the forces for and against federalism." (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 16, 2013)

The NC has concluded that elections are not possible in Baisakh (April-May) as early consensus between the parties is unlikely "due to the authoritarian tendency" of the Maoist-led ruling coalition. An informal meeting of the NC's central working committee held at the party-president Sushil Koirala's Maharajgunj residence reached this conclusion, and decided to focus fully on the anti-government protests starting on January 19. "The party will now concentrate on the agitations, but has not ruled out negotiations," NC leader Minendra Rijal said after the meeting, "Despite being in power, they [Maoists] are threatening to launch a protest. This is authoritarian character." The NC leaders spent considerable time on discussing the moves the party would want President Ram Baran Yadav to make, but could not take any decision. (Source: nepalnews.com, January 16, 2013)

Leaders of CPN-Maoist have said that they will not participate in anti-government protests held by the NC and the CPN-UML. At a press conference held in Kathmandu to make public the decisions of the party's general convention, party chairman Mohan Vaidhya said that changing the Prime Minister only would not help resolve the political crisis. He warned the NC and the CPN-UML leaders of not picking on CPN-Maoist over the Dekendra Thapa murder case. Vaidhya said that the past agreements should be the basis of resolving such cases. If all wartime cases are revived, no one will be spared, added the Maoist leader, who formed a new party after breaking away from UCPN-Maoist. These cases need to be dealt with by a truth commission, he told. (Source: nepalnews.com, January 16, 2013)

The Federal Democratic Front-Nepal (FDF-N) has reiterated the need for formation of an election government with the participation of all the political parties. The major three parties such as UCPN-Maoist, NC, and CPN-UML should not be given the leadership of the government however, the alliance of seven fringe parties including the Upendra Yadav-led Madheshi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal said. In a press statement spokesperson for the FDF-N Parshuram Tamang said President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has also been a failure as the head of the state could not name the new prime minister for the consensus government and bail the country out of existing crisis. Charging that the three parties have held the country the hostage, the FDF-N said that the fresh election is the only way to sort out the current political stalemate. For that, exit of the current government and formation of a fair election government is a must, the press statement read. Ruling out the formation of a national government under the leadership of major parties, the FDF-N said, “Fair polls cannot be guaranteed with the new government that would be led by the major parties.” (Source: THT ONLINE, January 19, 2013)

Opposition parties are commencing their phase wise protests against the incumbent government on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Nine opposition parties including the NC and the CPN-UML are holding a protest assembly in the Dailekh district against the 2004 murder of journalist Dekendra Thapa during the Maoist insurgency. At the protest rally to be held at the district headquarters, NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and CPN-UML leader Bamdev Gautam among others will be addressing the rally. Nine opposition parties on January 15 had unveiled their 21-day protest events beginning today to unseat the incumbent Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai from the helm blaming the latter for turning authoritarian. Earlier, opposition parties that had launched protest against the government two months ago had called off the agitation following the President’s call for a national unity government. Meanwhile, Federal Democratic Republican Alliance (FDRA), the alliance of ruling UCPN-Maoist and United Democratic Madheshi Front (UDMF) on Friday decided to hold a mass rally in Kathmandu on January 30. (Source: THT ONLINE, January 19, 2013)

Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda has said that political consensus was not forged, as the opposition political parties feared the upcoming elections to the constituent assembly (CA). Opening the party's Central Library and Information Center at the party headquarters in Paris Danda this morning, January 19, 2013, Chairman of UCPN-Maoist Prachanda said that consensus remained elusive due to the opposition parties' power hungry nature and their fear of facing the CA elections. "Opposition parties are not ready for consensus. Instead, they are hell-bent on foiling the achievements obtained from the people's sacrifices and contributions. The country will not get an outlet until people discourage such practices," Chairman Prachanda said. The UCPN-Maoist Chairman said that his party was fully determined to hold the fresh CA elections even in the first week of June though the opposition parties were presenting themselves irresponsibly. Hinting at the opposition parties' anti-government protests, the UCPN-Maoist Chairman said that only dialogue and talks would end the ongoing deadlock, and the Maoists were committed to that end. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 19, 2013)

Senior leader of NC Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday, January 20, 2013 warned of toppling the Bhattarai-led government through the street protests. Speaking at a press meet held by the Press Union Dang Chapter in Tulsipur, senior leader Deuba claimed that a storm of agitation would be created to oust the current government, as Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai was reluctant to build a consensus. He also said that the government would not last long as it has been criticized from all walks of life. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 20, 2013)

President of NC Sushil Koirala has said that the opposition alliance has initiated a movement to attract the attention of the national and international community. Speaking at a press meet held by the Press Union Chitwan in Bharatpur on Monday, January 21, 2013, he said the agitation is also aimed at exerting pressure on the present government, and added that the agitation and talks would go together ahead. He also expressed the confidence in the movement that it would also help exert pressure on the President, who carries the duty of protecting the constitution, to move ahead seriously. Stating that the threatening by the Maoist Chairman Prachanda to go for a revolt by tearing off the peace accord would not bear any impact, the NC President said, his party would never compromise with any side on fundamentals like democracy, rule of law and press freedom. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 21, 2013). The irony is that Mr. Koirala talks of democracy, the rule of law going against democratic principles and not following the rule of law, as he anticipates to create pressure on the President to step out of the constitution and do something in his favor by the street protests but not going to the Supreme Court or to polls following the constitution.

Speaking at the cadres' meeting in the Chitwan district this morning, President of NC Sushil Koirala warned of stern agitations against the government, and directed his party’s cadres to be ready for that, and said that the incumbent government was the main hindrance to political consensus. “Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai should step down to pave way for the formation of a national unity government,” said Koirala. On the occasion, Koirala also accused Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai of sticking to the government for power. Saying that the Chitwan district is on the frontline in every issue, he expressed belief that the anti-government protests will be expedited from Chitwan. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 22, 2013)

Leaders of the ruling UCPN-Maoist have called on all political parties to reach a deal on holding fresh Constituent Assembly elections by the end of May. Top Maoist leaders, who were in Gorkha to attend the fourth convention of the party's district committee, said the party was ready to make any sacrifice necessary to conduct elections. "We are ready to make any sacrifice necessary to conduct elections by May," Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said speaking at the fourth convention of the party's district committee in Gorkha today. He accused NC of being hell-bent on toppling the government at any cost. "We are calling for a package deal to form a truth commission, hold elections and take ownership of the work done by the CA. However, all that NC leaders want is power." (Source: nepalnews.com, January 22, 2013)

President of NC Sushil Koirala has warned that the UCPN-Maoist would cease to exist if it did not give up authoritarianism. Speaking at an event held on the 13th day of the demise of Shyam Krishna Pradhan in Chitwan on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, President Koirala said, "Maoists would meet the fate of the Rana, Panchayat and monarchy if it continued to harbor authoritarianism." President of NC Koirala urged Maoist Chairman Prachanda not to threaten other parties, and challenged Prachanda if he could dare return to the jungle. Leader Koirala further said his party launched agitation in order to make the international community aware of the excesses of the Maoist party. Therefore, the agitation would reach a decisive point, he argued. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 22, 2013)

Vice President of NC Ram Chandra Poudel has alleged that the current ruling coalition has defamed the democracy. Addressing a news conference held by the Dadeldhura Press Union in Dadeldhura on January 23, 2013, he said that the UCPN-Maoist would not be ready for the election until the situation was favorable to it. Stating that the dictatorial character of the ruling coalition has made a mockery of the democracy, the NC vice president said that the UCPN-Maoist had treated the post of the prime minister as a joke. He said that the only objective of the protest movement the opposition parties have announced was to press for holding the constituent assembly election. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 23, 2013)

Former Prime Minister-cum-NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the nation was facing the current political impasse as Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai declared the election in a unilateral manner bypassing other political parties. Speaking at a press conference held in Dhangadhi on January 23, 2013, he claimed that the current national crisis resulted as nobody cared to hear him in the meeting before May 27, 2012, the day the CA was dissolved. In this meeting, leader Deuba had proposed for declaring a state of emergency and extending the Constituent Assembly tenure by six months or for reinstating the CA. NC leader Deuba said that there was no alternative to a political consensus in the country but added that Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai should quit the government so as to end the political and constitutional impasse, to form the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation and to pave the way for national consensus politics. (Source: RSS/thehimalayantimes.com, January 23, 2013)