Seven Party Alliance pledges constituent assembly poll

Madhav Kumar Nepal addressing a gathering at

Khula Manch in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Kathmandu, April 27:Senior leaders of the seven-party alliance today vowed to meet people’s aspirations on the issue of election to the constituent assembly and to begin the process in the very first session of the reinstated House of Representatives beginning tomorrow.Addressing a huge gathering at Khula Manch, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress (NC) vice president Sushil Koirala, president of Janamorcha Nepal Amik Sherchan, president of NC (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party president Narayan Man Bijukchhe and Bharat Bimal Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi) pledged to hold election to unconditional constituent assembly.Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala was conspicuous by his absence as he did not turn up at the venue to address the masses because of “health reasons”. Piqued by his absence some people even pelted stones and hooted when Sushil Koirala came to address the gathering.Nepal said CPN-UML would take to the streets again if the issue of constituent assembly was side-stepped. The UML chief also suggested that the new all-party government must change the name of the Royal Nepal Army to Nepal Army and that it should purely remain under the purview of the Parliament. He urged the Maoists to join the mainstream.Sherchan acknowledged the role of the Maoists in the success of the mass movement. “The Maoists were actively involved in the peaceful movement,” Sherchan admitted. He asked the people to gherao Singhadurbar to press for election to constituent assembly. He urged the HoR to end all formal procedures and act quickly and warned that the people would be compelled to go for a republican setup if the King poses any hurdle in constituent assembly poll. Sherchan opined that NC president Koirala should take oath before the public.Deuba said the new government should rechristen His Majesty’s Government as Nepal Government.Bijukchhe said the new government should fix a ceiling on property, allocate half of the budget on local development, check border encroachment, scrap all one-sided treaties and withdraw red corner notice and terrorist tag pinned against the Maoists.Yadav emphasised on election to constituent assembly for peace, stability, inclusive democracy and restructuring the state.People power• A huge banner warned GP Koirala: “Take oath from sovereign people in Khula Manch, not from the King. Be aware of conspiracies!”• Gathering wanted to hear from Koirala but was told that the NC supremo was “not well” and was being attended to by two doctors.• Anti-monarchy slogans all over.• Threat to gherao Singhadurbar from Friday unless the HoR decides on election to constituent assembly.• NC vice-president Sushil Koirala had to leave the mike following continuous hooting and stone pelting.• Nepal Bar Association president Shambhu Thapa and a comedian tried to calm down the crowd but failed.• Madhav Kumar Nepal pacified the crowd.

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