Thaindian News

Kathmandu, May 1 (IANS) Facing an unprecedented crisis with the opposition Maoists ready to clamp an indefinite general strike from Sunday and parliament and the government facing dissolution in four weeks time, Nepal’s embattled Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will not resign, a top ruling party leader said Thursday.
The prime minister has instead decided to throw the ball back in the opposition’s court when he addresses the nation at 6 p.m.

According to Yubaraj Gyawali, a former minister and a top leader of the prime minister’s party, Nepal will ask the Maoists to call off the general strike and proceed with negotiations.

“A workforce comprising representatives from the three top parties has been formed and it is trying to reach a package solution,” Gyawali told IANS.

“The government is ready to be as flexible as possible. But it feels the prime minister’s resignation will not serve any purpose. The focus has to be on the peace process and drafting a new constitution.”

If the new constitution is not enforced by May 28, Nepal faces chaos and the dissolution of parliament.

The constitutional remedy is President’s Rule for six months and a state of emergency till a new caretaker government is formed.

There is another less severe solution: Amending the constitution to extend the its drafting deadline by six months.

However, the amendment needs to be approved by a two-third majority in parliament, which is impossible if the Maoists, the biggest party accounting for over 30 percent seats, oppose the move.

The last-ditch dialogue will resume after the Maoists conclude their show of might in the capital, attended by thousands of people.

Unless the ruling parties are able to persuade the former rebels, Nepal is headed for an indefinite general strike from Sunday.

Besides dealing a crippling blow to the fragile economy, the strike will also badly hit the government’s plans to attract 1 million tourists to the country next year, which is being celebrated as Nepal Tourism Year 2011.