Sushil says NC will stay in opposition

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

POKHARA: Nepali Congress President Shushil Koirala today said his party will stay in the opposition in the Parliament.

“It’s the people’s will as well. NC will stay in the opposition and stress on drafting of the new constitution and concluding the peace process,” said Koirala at a programme organised by Press Union, Kaski.

Koirala said issues related to the constitution drafting and peace process were more important than those surrounding government formation.

Koirala warned that the country would head towards yet another conflict if peace process were not concluded and the constitution were not promulgated on time. “All political parties must work honestly to accomplish these two most important tasks,” added Koirala.

The NC president said it was good that the country got a new prime minister after protracted deadlock and added, “NC is not surprised by the outcome of the election as the two parties (UCPN-Maoist and UML) share similar ideologies.”

He, however, said NC was not going to compromise on democratic values. Koirala informed that NC would decide its political stand in the new context.

“Democratic values and norms including freedom, human rights, press freedom and independent judiciary are at the core of

our policy. This is what the people want,” said the NC president.

Koirala also stressed on returning of property seized by the Maoists, integrating PLA combatants and disbanding YCL’s para-military structure.

“The people must get the feel of democracy in the country,” said Koirala.