Kathmandu: Attacking Baburam Bhattarai for failing to take forward Nepal`s floundering peace process, a senior opposition leader on Friday said the Prime Minister should step down if the upcoming "decisive talks" to discuss major irritants lead nowhere. Bhim Rawal, Standing Committee member of the opposition CPN-UML, said Bhattarai will have to quit on moral grounds as he could not fulfill his commitment of concluding the peace process within 45 days of formation of the government.
Speaking at an interaction programme in the capital today, Rawal, also a member of the Army Integration Special Committee, said this government will be irrelevant if the peace process was not taken forward in time.
Rawal termed the round of talks to be held between major political parties tomorrow on settling key issues related to the peace process and constitution writing as "decisive" and said an alternative government will be sought if no results come out of it.
The discussions with the ruling UCPN-Maoist will focus on implementing the seven-point agreement reached between the major political parties. "If there is no progress on the matter, then an alternative to this government would be sought," he said.
Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak also accused the Maoists of trying to impose their "autocratic" agenda while drafting the constitution.
"The Maoists are violating the peace process by sticking to their agenda," he said, referring to the stance assumed by the Mohan Vaidya-led hardline faction of the party.
The radical segment of the Maoists have reportedly demanded that the phrase "Peoples` War" be included in the Preamble of the Constitution, though the party has already agreed to use the more moderate term "armed struggle" instead.
Lekhan said the constitution would not be written until the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants was complete and urged the Maoists not to obstruct the statute writing process.
PTI