Oli, two others denied entry into Baluwatar

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: In a clear manifestation of a deepening crisis within the UML, top leaders of the party were denied entry into the prime minister´s official residence in Baluwatar Tuesday evening.

UML standing committee member KP Sharma Oli, accompanied by party secretaries Bishnu Paudel and Shankar Pokharel, reached Baluwatar at around 8:40 pm to hold a “crucial meeting” in connection with power-sharing with the UCPN (Maoist), but the leaders returned from the entrance after security personnel told them that they were not instructed to allow them to go inside.

The leaders said that they were denied entry despite the fact that they had fixed up an appointment with the newly elected prime minister.

“We had fixed an appointment with the prime minister, but security personnel did not let us go inside,” Pokharel told Republica.

But the prime minister´s aides differ.

They said the prime minister was waiting for the leaders and the leaders returned due to a misunderstanding on a very minor technical procedure to be carried out by security personnel at the gate.

Ghanshyam Bhusal, a leader close to Khanal, accused the leaders of unnecessarily blowing up the issue.

According to him, there was no need to dramatize the issue because the security personnel had already saluted Oli and opened the gate after a brief security check-up. Oli and other leaders returned their vehicles from the gate even though a vehicle escorting them had already entered the residence.

“The issue was politicized,” said Bhusal.

Immediately after the incident, Oli and Prime Minister Khanal talked over the phone and scheduled the next meeting for 10:15 am on Wednesday.

According to sources, the leaders reached Baluwatar after they held a meeting of those loyal to Oli and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

They were planning to submit a letter to the prime minister to mount further pressure on the prime minister to abide by the party policy and decisions and not to bow to Maoist´s demands.

Five standing committee members including Oli, Nepal, Paudel, Pokharel and Bidya Bhandari signed the letter.

“The way you are dillydallying and hesitating to implement the party´s decision to not allow the Maoists to lead the security-related ministries has prompted us to submit this letter. We urge you to ensure that you implement the party decision with a firm determination,” stated the letter addressed to the prime minister.

They have also warned him that the party wouldn´t accept any decision taken by Khanal on his discretion if that is against the party´s policy. “In that case, you will be solely responsible for such a situation,” they said in writing.

The Nepal-Oli camp is strongly lobbying against allowing Maoist heading the home and defense ministry.

All this happened at a time when the prime minister has failed to induct Maoist leaders in his cabinet and to allocate portfolios to the ministers. While Nepal-Oli section wants to appoint Paudel as home minister, Khanal-faction is for giving the portfolio to the Maoists so as to strengthen ties with the largest partner in the coalition.

Bhusal said the prime minister has failed to give the cabinet full shape due to dispute over the home ministry.

According to him, the prime minister is trying his best to induct Maoists without home portfolio but Maoists said they can´t make any compromise on the issue.

“The prime minister faces a serious difficulty as Nepal and Oli have been insisting not to let the Maoists lead the home ministry,” Bhusal said. “The Maoists made it a prestige issue mainly after leaders from our own party hardened their stance.”

Though Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha said they will join the government soon, it may take two days more as the Maoist´s top leaders are scheduled to attend the party´s training program in Pokhara on Wednesday.

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