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Nepali Congress rejects king's offer

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, April 22, IRNA
Nepal-King-Protests
While rejecting King Gyanendra's announcement of shedding down and handing over executive power to the people, the opposition Nepali Congress Saturday said the monarch fell short of promising a constituent assembly as demanded by political parties.

"He has betrayed the people's aspirations. This is not for the King to ask the (seven-party) alliance to form the government. It is not the mandate. Our mandate was to reinstate Parliament, have dialogue with Maoists and form a constituent assembly," a PTI report said here quoting Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala.

However, Nepal's Information Minister Shishir Rana said the king did refer to Maoists and addressed political demands to surrender executive power.

Rana said the responsiblity now lay with the seven-party alliance to form the government.

But the Nepali Congress leader, whose party is one of the major constituents of the alliance, insisted the pro-democracy grouping had never demanded elections that the king spoke about while announcing a return of democracy to the Himalayan kingdom.

"We are not interested in elections at this time. We are asking for formation of a constituent assembly. Elections will come later after talks with Maoists," he said when asked whether his party supported the king's proposals to form a government and name a prime minister," the PTI report said.

Koirala pointed out that the king had only announced that he would relinquish executive power and not state power. The king was expected to transfer state power as well to the seven-party alliance, he said.

Asked whether his party was ready for fresh elections, Koirala accused the king of "hoodwinking" both Nepal and the international community.

"The legality is that he has to reinstate Parliament and that (Parliament) discuss with Maoists to have a constituent assembly. The situation is not conducive for fesh polls," he said.

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