Kathmandu: Accusing "regressive forces" of conspiring against the timely drafting of new Constitution, Nepal`s opposition Maoists chief Prachanda on Sunday said it must be promulgated by the May 28 deadline to save the country from those opposing federalism, republicanism and secularism.
"It is necessary to draft the Constitution within the time frame in order to foil the conspiracy being hatched by the regressive forces," Prachanda said, addressing a function of pro-Maoist construction workers in Chitawan in southern Nepal.
"The statute must be drafted by May 28 to save the country from those who oppose federalism, republicanism and secularism," he said.
Prachanda said "the regressive forces" think that they can "retract the history" with the demise of five-time prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, but their dreams will never come true.
Prachanda`s remarks came at a time when Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has hinted at extending the May 28 deadline as the Constitution is not likely to be promulgated within the agreed time frame.
Prachanda said the three major parties had reached a consensus over the timely drafting of the statute. Separately, addressing a condolence meeting organised by the Nepali Congress over the demise of their veteran leader Koirala today, Prachanda said that the responsibility to take the peace process to the logical conclusion has now come to his shoulder.
"We (Prachanda and Koirala) were the two signatories of the 12-point (peace) agreement reached in Delhi and now the responsibility to take the peace process to its logical conclusion has come to my shoulder," he said.
Nepali Congress leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba, Shushil Koirala and Ramchandra Poudyal, on the occasion, vowed to run the party through collective leadership and said they would devote themselves to fulfil the dreams of Koirala.
They, however, urged the Maoists to renounce violence.
The Maoists should renounce violence in actual terms to pay tribute to late Koirala, they pointed out.
PTI
