Maoists threaten to quit govt in two days

KATHMANDU, June 4 - CPN-Maoist has threatened to quit the government in two days if it is not allowed to form the next government by tomorrow.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, during a meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter's official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday urged the PM to immediately step down to facilitate the Maoists to forming the next government.

"If Nepali Congress and UML don't withdraw their conditions and don't allow us to form the next government by tomorrow, we will quit the government," said senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, who was present at the meeting.

He charged that the NC and the UML were obstructing Maoists from forming the next government by putting forth 'meaningless' conditions.

During the meeting Dahal told Koirala that CPN- Maoist, being the largest political party, has the legitimate claim to form the next government. He also told Koirala that Maoists can't initiate consultations on forming the government until the Prime Minister resigns.

"The Prime Minister must resign and should call us to form the next government," Dr Bhattarai said, adding, "Otherwise, we will be morally compelled to quit the government."

Maoist Chairman Dahal, during the meeting, reiterated the Maoist position that it (Maoist) will not share the top posts - President and Prime Minister with NC or UML.

"We will never share the top posts -President and Prime Minister with any of the two loser parties -NC and UML," said Dr Bhattarai, adding, "Losers can't claim any of the top posts."

The Prime Minister, during the meeting, agreed to call a meeting of three major political parties - NC, UML and Maoist - to seek political consensus tomorrow.
Today, the Maoist leadership discussed the current political stalemate with leaders of UML, Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) and Terai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP).

"We basically made our position clear and informed them that we will quit the government if political consensus is not reached by tomorrow evening," said Dr Bhattarai.

Meanwhile, NC and UML today decided to stand over their previous positions -amending the two-third provision in the interim constitution and sharing the top posts. In a meeting held at PM Koirala's residence, the leaders decided to urge Maoists to agree on amending the two-third provision to form and remove the government and share the top posts during tomorrow's meeting.

"We both (NC and UML) reiterated our position and decided that both the top posts can't be given to a single party," said NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi, who was present during the meeting.