Kathmandu, June 5
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has denied the existence of a three-point deal on the transfer of government leadership from the CPN-UML to the then UCPN-Maoist.
“It was not a gentleman’s agreement. In fact, it was a proposal that I rejected,” Prime Minister Oli told the state-owned Nepal Television on Saturday, referring to the much-talked-about gentleman’s ‘deal’ that CPN-UML and then UCPN-Maoist are said to have reached. However, senior UML leaders like Jhala Nath Khanal, Bamdev Gautam and Madhav Kumar Nepal have been implying that such a deal exists. Citing the deal, they have been urging PM Oli to step down and make way for the formation of a national unity government.
At Saturday’s interview with Ravi Lamichhane, PM Oli said: I have heard about the ‘three-point deal’. In course of a discussion between the CPN-UML and the UCPN-Maoist, a three-point proposal was presented. But I rejected it. At that point, I described the proposal as inappropriate, objectionable and humiliating to me. These days, newspapers are describing the three-point proposal as a gentleman’s agreement. This is surprising.
He further said: I am in favour of national consensus, but why do we need a new government at this point? Our party (the UML) is always striving for national consensus. Even the party standing committee meeting has appealed for national consensus. I do not want to stick to the post of prime minister for long. But consensus, cooperation and unity cannot thrive when conspiracies are afoot.
Oli claimed that the present government is taking the country towards prosperity, adding that future government will not be able to leave this course.
He added: Under my leadership, the country is moving on the right track. What will happen when I quit? This is not the right time to step down in the name of facilitating change in government leadership. Attempts to destabilise the government are not acceptable.
Oli continued: Nonetheless, we will not pose obstructions if other parties come to the fore with credible plans to further strengthen national unity, accelerate national development and protect national interest.
Oli, who is also the UML Chair, said his party is committed to the formal nine-point deal reached between his party and the then UCPN-Maoist. “We will implement the nine-point deal and that is all I have to say.”
