BIJUKCHHE NO TO ETHNIC FEDERALISM Kathmandu, 14 July:: Chairman of the Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP), Narayan Man Bijukchhe, has said that ethnicity-based federalism alone would not ensure economic equality to the indigenous nationalities, RSS reports from Kirtipur. Speaking in an interaction on contemporary politics of Nepal coordinated by Nepal Revolutionary Cultural Association here today, he said, "It is merely an illusion to think that there would be economic equality among all the ethnic communities in the country by creating ethnicity-based federal states." He stressed that there should be unity among all the peoples. Pointing out that the country was passing through a difficult transition at present, he said all the political parties should rise above partisan interests for ending the drawn-out transition. NWPP central committee member Narayan Maharjan said that the prolonged transition would benefit none and urged the political parties to be serious in ending this. Another central committee member of the party Shanak Man Maharjan urged the political parties to consider the national interest instead of personal and party interests supreme. Other leaders speaking on the occasion also underlined the need for political acumen to tide over the political transition. Nnnn CONSENSUS MUST FOR MAOISTS SAYS SUSHIL KOIRALA Kathmandu, 14 July: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala has said that his party is eager to move ahead through consensus and there is no alternative for the Maoists to tread the path of consensus, RSS reports. "Weapon, intimidation, fear and terror do not work; therefore, Maoists should come to the path of dialogue and consensus," President Koirala further said. NC is not against the ethnicity-based federalism, he made it clear, stressing the need for delineating the least number of provinces where all the ethnic groups would be respected. Opening the first convention of NC Myagdi-Kathmandu Liaison Committee in the Capital on Saturday, he said that the NC has initiated dialogue and discussion for consensus being sensitive to cut through the problems facing the country, however the Maoist-led government's unilateral decision of announcing elections has drawn criticism from NC including other parties. Party Central Member Arjun Narsingh KC noted that the Unified CPN (Maoist) has devised strategy to capture state power taking advantage of the anarchy stemming from ethnic unrest and warned that they would foil the Maoists' vested interest to seize state power in the name of election. Another central member Arjun Prasad Joshi claimed that no other parties except NC could give outlet to the current problems and deliver constitution in the country. Youth leader Gagan Thapa compared the election to be held by the incumbent government to the polls that the deposed King Gyanendra conducted in the past and suggested that the NC should come up with clear roadmap and Prime Ministerial candidate to resolve the problems of the country. NC, Myagdi District President Resham Baniya demanded judicious representation from Myagdi Congress in different structures of the party in the centre. RSS nnnn NINE INJURED IN MORANG ACCIDENTS Kathmandu, 14 July: At least nine persons were injured in a road accident in Tankisinawari, Morang district, on Saturday afternoon, RSS reports from Biratnagar.. The accident took place when the driver lost control of the bus while trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle on its way, according to the District Police Office, Morang. The bus (Me 1 Kha 1490) bound to Biratnagar from Kakadbhitta overturned on the East-West Highway at Tankisinawari. The motorcyclist, however, escaped unhurt in the incident. All the injured are undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Meanwhile, Paras Malakar, 65, of Karsiya Bazaar, Morang, was electrocuted, said police. Malakar was undergoing treatment at the Koshi Zonal Hospital after he received an electric shock while repairing a fan at his house. nnnn