Both the leaders said they cannot accept the UCPN (Maoist) leading the home and defense ministries. They also ruled out any possibility of the UML owning up to the seven-point deal reached secretly between UML Chairman and Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
"The Standing Committee (SC) of the UML has taken a clear decision not to allow the Maoists to lead the home and defense ministries," former prime minister Nepal told Republica. "There is no confusion in this connection."[break]
He said if any UML leader advocates forgoing the security-related ministries to the Maoists, that will be clearly against the party´s policy and decision. "If any individual leader, who is pro-Maoist, goes against the party´s decision, that will be against the party interest," he said.
Nepal urged Prime Minister Khanal to take an unflinching stance on the party decision instead of being influenced by Maoist leaders. "He should work as per the UML´s policies and decisions. The entire party is ready to back him wholeheartedly," Nepal said.
Meanwhile, Oli also said the Maoists cannot be allowed to run the home and defense ministries until the former rebels completely transforms themselves into a civilian party. He said since the Maoist party at its recently-concluded plenum endorsed its policy of revolt, it can´t be trusted to run the key ministries of the government.
"The way the Maoists have been insisting on their claim to the home ministry further proves that they are in fact preparing for a revolt," Oli told Republica. "This is a very dangerous plan."
He said one can easily recall how the former rebels last year tried to paralyze normal life in the capital.
Oli claimed that the Maoists staked their claim to the home ministry mainly for political purposes. "It is clear that we are also against allowing the Maoists to lead the home ministry for their political reasons and purposes. Therefore, we couldn´t reach any agreement until yesterday [Thursday]," Oli explained.
He said clearly that the UML would not own up the seven-point deal reached between Khanal and Dahal before the vote for Khanal as prime minister.
"It is objectionable for the UML both in terms of its content and the procedure. So our party will never accept it," he said.
Related story
Policy against same individual or group owning both businesses...
