RPP calls for all-party govt, blames govt. for the split in the party
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has renewed its call for the formation of what it called a fully empowered all party government on the basis of a dialogue between the king and parties.
Talking to Kathmandu-based foreign correspondents at his residence at Maharajgunj in the capital on Tuesday, chairman of RPP, Pashupati Shumsher Rana, said such a government must enjoy full executive powers in accordance to the 1990 constitution. “We also feel that the terms of reconciliation can only be on the basis of the fundamental norms of multi-party democracy.”
Rana blamed the royal government of failing to initiate a dialogue with its natural allies—the parties in parliament. “Time is running out. The state must reach to the parties before it runs out,” he added.
Saying that Nepal was facing the worst crisis in its history, Rana said the ultimate solution to the present crisis was to bring the insurgents into the mainstream through a dialogue, in which all the elements of the state, the king and parties engage jointly. Unfortunately, none of this is happening, he added.
Responding to a query, Rana urged the government to reconsider the municipal polls slated on February 8. He said banning all type of mass meetings and peaceful assembly in the capital and holding municipal polls were contradictory to each other.
Referring to recent vertical split in his party—considered as royalist by many-- Rana alleged the royal government of misusing state machinery to bring about vertical split in the party. “Now the full apparatus of the state has been brought to bear upon us. The dissidents are hell-bent on capturing the flag and symbol of the party by misusing the resources of state power,” he said.
The dissident group, after organizing ‘special general convention’ of the party, ‘elected’ Home Minister Kamal Thapa as RPP’s new chairman. They have also filed petition at the Election Commission laying claims on the party’s election symbol (plough) and flag.
RPP led by Rana has knocked the doors of the court to save its flag and election symbol. “The RPP had to pay a high price for its commitment to democracy. But, on the issue of democracy, come what may, there will be no compromise,” said Rana. nepalnews.com by Jan 17 06
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