Maoists demand new govt before SAARC summit

Nepal’s cabinet on Monday gave the green signal to caretaker Prime Minister G P Koirala to represent the country at the SAARC Summit...

Nepal’s cabinet on Monday gave the green signal to caretaker Prime Minister G P Koirala to represent the country at the SAARC Summit, drawing strong opposition from Maoists who demanded that a new government be formed before the Colombo meet scheduled for August 2-3.

“Since the formation of the new government has not yet started the Cabinet has decided to attend the SAARC Summit under the leadership of caretaker government’s Prime Minister Koirala,” Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ramchandra Poudyal told reporters after a meeting.

The decision by the Cabinet, dominated by Koirala’s Nepali Congress, drew strong rebuke from Maoists’ second in command Baburam Bhattarai.

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“It is amazing that Koirala, who has already tendered his resignation is leading the Nepalese delegation to the SAARC Summit,” he said.

“A new government should be formed before the summit, and this government must be stopped from taking part in the meet,” Bhattarai said.

Under intense pressure from Maoists, who emerged as the biggest group in the April 10 Constituent Assembly election, Koirala had tendered his resignation on June 26 that was accepted by President Ram Baram Yadav last week.

Yadav was elected as Nepal’s first President after the Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and Madhesi groups joined hands to defeat the Maoist candidate, in a setback to the former rebels led by Prachanda who had staked claim to lead the government.