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Kathmandu Monday June 25, 2001 Ashadh 11, 2058.
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PM again hints at stepping down
Post Report
KATHMANDU, June 24 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has
hinted what most of his opponents, both within the party and outside, want to hear ... a
possible resignation from the coveted office he has held for the past 15 months.
"To boost the morale of the party activists I might need
to move ahead taking only the responsibility of the party," Koirala told the
Parliamentary Party (PP) meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence today.
He however did not specifically say he was quitting or plans
to step down anytime soon.
Koirala, who currently holds both the positions as the prime
minister and the president of the Nepali Congress (NC), is being pressured by the
dissidents within the party to let go of one position, preferably premiership.
And the opposition parties in parliament have teamed up to
pressure him to quit from the job he so far has managed to cling on to.
"The prime minister hinted that if there was another
leadership from within the party then he would not be an obstruction to the change,"
said Hom Nath Dahal, a NC rebel member.
During the PP meet today called to prepare for the
parliamentary session to begin on Monday, Koirala said the nation, the constitutional
monarchy and democracy were all in a critical state and it was upto the party to
strengthen it.
The prime minister also proposed a package program to be
implemented in the next five-10 years, which he said would discuss with all the parties.
He did not elaborate or give details of the program.
According to secretary of the PP Benup Raj Prasai, the
committee comprising of Chakra Prasad Bastola, Chiranjivi Wagle and Ram Sharan Mahat will
be holding separate talks with the opposition parties to be followed by an all-party meet.
Former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba told the meet the situation was
difficult at the moment.
Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who is also the
Home Minister, defended the enforcement of the Public Safety Regulations 2001 and
reiterated claims that it does not give the chief district officers unlimited authorities
to detain people and restrict organizations.
Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said that the revenue has
plunged and it has even become difficult to run the administration. He said the budget
would not be bringing in any new programs but rather concentrate on giving continuation to
existing programs of the government.
Only top leaders of the party were allowed to speak during
the meet today. Party lawmakers will speak during Wednesday’s PP meet.
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