Prez can send PM packing: Oli

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Senior CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli, who is well known for his acid-tongued remarks against his political opponents including the ruling Unified CPN-Maoist, today said President Ram Baran Yadav could easily oust Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai by sending a letter of dismissal to the

latter.

Talking to a group of mediapersons at his residence here today, Oli said the President, who is the sole elected body, had the authority to sack the PM in order to give outlet to the country. “The President is the patron of the constitution, not a head priest of a religious body. He cannot remain silent,” he added.

The UCPN-M has been fooling everyone to materialise their plan to capture the state power, NC should wake up from their dream that the Maoists will easily hand over the power to them, the UML leader said.

Oli said the UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s statement that the Bhattarai government could last for 20-25 years was a reflection of his design to capture the state power.

“The Maoists should, however, understand that this is the 21st century and their mala fide designs will not materialise,” he quipped. He said the present struggle was between the dictatorial and democratic forces and the victory of the latter was certain.

Terming the revival of the Constituent Assembly impossible, Oli said there should be fresh elections for Parliament which could act as the CA for first six months.

Taking a dig at the NC, the UML leader said that the grand old party was talking of the CA’s revival in the hope that the Maoists would hand over power to them.

“We will not support the revival of the CA even if the NC favours it,” Oli added. He warned that the government would suffer the same fate as Ranas and the ex-king if they suppressed the students’ movement.