Govt. won’t fall: Girija

By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 19 July: Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala said Sunday the Madhav Kumar Nepal government formed with cooperation and understanding won’t fall until the peace process is completed.
Koirala said this as Maoists are predicting an imminent fall of the two-month government to be replaced by another ‘national government’ headed by Maoists.
Koirala made the remark to journalists before returning to the capital from Biratnagar.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a report to the security council said there’s a ‘decline in consensual politics and the rise in competition and rivalry among the parties’.
He noted the constitution may not be drafted within the May 2010 deadline.
Consensual politics was abandoned after Maoists won the April 2008 constituent assembly elections by amending the interim constitution to incorporate a majority government after which only a Maoist government was installed replacing the government of consensus under Girija Prasad Koirala
Koirala family and his party were trounced in elections.
Even as a powerful prime minister was conceived overthrowing King Gyanendra after royal rule, parties other that Maoists attempted to create a parallel power center in the president to curb Maoists influence in government.
Maoist government led by Prachanda fell when President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and retained ousted Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Maoists called the presidential move a presidential and military coup supported by foreign powers.
Maoists are now demanding the powers of the president and prime minister be clearly defined.
nnnn


Saptari closed down


Kathmandu, 19 July: Protesters opposed to the police firing of one person in Itahari, Saptari, last week closed down all government offices Sunday.
They demanded action against police who injured four others inn the firing as well.
Protestors demanded compensation for victims.
They delivered a memorandum to the prime minister through the CDO.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“’In reality, Maoists quit government. No Maoists have only two options to form a government; either is has to form a government through rebellion; if that’s not possible, it has to come to parliament.”

( Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, Deshantar, 19 July)
nnnn