Kathmandu: Nepal’s opposition CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal today blamed the Maoists for the crisis in the country, saying despite its numbers the ruling party did not have the capability to lead and its fickle attitude was derailing the peace process.
The former Prime Minister demanded Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s resignation and said “the present government has impeded the ongoing peace and constitution writing processes”.
Inaugurating a programme of intellectuals affiliated to the UML here, Khanal warned that “the country would plunge into serious crisis if peace and constitution writing processes were not completed in time.
“The UCPN-Maoist, despite being the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, does not have ability to lead the country,” he charged. He said his party was making efforts for forging a national consensus, but the Maoists’ attitude would see no movement on the process.
“For UML, forging consensus with the Maoist has been like hugging with bear. Neither can we join hands nor do we remain farther from the Maoists,” he said in sarcastic remarks about the relationship between the two largest communist parties. Khanal slammed the Maoists for not showing seriousness towards institutionalising the achievements of the people’s movements.
“The Maoist leaders were frequently changing their positions on peace and revolt,” he said. (PTI)