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Kathmandu Monday March 19, 2001 Chaitra 06, 2057.
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PM seeks party workers' support
Post Report
KATHMANDU, March 18 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
today reiterated his stance that he would not bow down to the pressure from opposition
parties who are demanding his resignation.
Instead he challenged them to produce substantial evidences
proving his involvement in the controversial Lauda Air deal and called for party unity
during the opening day of a mega meeting that was attended by who is who of the
nation’s largest and oldest political party.
The meeting of ruling Nepali Congress (NC) was called with
the purpose of discussing a way out and resolving the current political turmoil in the
country.
However, the absence of senior NC leader and former prime
minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai cast shadow over the purpose of the meet.
Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel denied that there
were any differences or political motives for the absence. "Bhattaraiji told me (over
the phone) that he is on maun brat and that he has vowed to maintain silence all day
today," Poudel said.
Most of the participants warned PM Koirala against opting
for mid-term polls in the face of continuing political turmoil and uncertainty both in the
parliament and in the streets, NC spokesman Narahari Acharya told newsmen after the meet.
Birendra International Convention Centre, the venue of the
meet, was crowded with NC party workers who were seemingly dissatisfied with the frequent
ups and downs in their party.
PM Koirala, DPM Poudel, most of the ministers and members
including the ones from the rebel camp headed by former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba
were present at the meeting which concluded inconclusively at 6:30 p.m. after nine hours.
Almost all the Central Working Committee (CWC) and District Working Committee (DWC)
members were also present at the meet.
The meeting is slated to start at 8 a.m. tomorrow and is
expected to conclude before 12 noon.
The meeting began with PM Koirala denying his involvement
in the controversial aircraft lease deal and called on the opposition parties to adopt to
constitutional means to seek his ouster.
Acharya said 53 of the 60 DWC members attending the meet
spoke today. And "seven of them suggested that PM tender his resignation, while the
rest were against the idea," he said.
Poudel said that today’s deliberations emphasized two
major strategies: upholding of the constitutional means and party unification.
"Most of the leaders speaking today were of the view
that PM Koirala should not resign just because the meeting of the opposition parties have
decided to seek that (PM’s resignation)," Poudel said.
Meanwhile, speaking at another program, Prime Minister
Koirala reiterated that he was ready to resign if the Commission for Investigation of
Abuse of Authority (CIAA) chargesheeted him for his alleged involvement in the Lauda Air
deal.
He also expressed his fear that the democratic system in
the country might come to an end in one single stroke if the ongoing deadlock in the
Parliament continued as there was a big conspiracy going on to end the current democratic
system in the country.
He was addressing a function organised by Society for
Democratic Thinking to felicitate Hashina Devi Shrestha (the widow of Martyr Ganga Lal
Shrestha), 80, for supporting and keeping the spirit of democracy alive. Prime Minister
Koirala presented her with a citation and draped a shawl around her.
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