Speaking at a press meet organised at Singha Durbar to announce the protest programmes of UCPN (M) led 30 opposition parties, Dahal said, “UML Chairman Oli represents conservatives and feudal and anti-federalist.”  He added that Oli has been presenting himself as if he is the king

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Dahal has been coming down heavily upon Oli after the latter, during a meeting of big three political parties on Saturday, urged the alliance of opposition parties to dissolve the front.  However, Oli has not been opposing to Dahal’s tirade saying it was just a knee-jerk reaction.

Leader Dahal said they were compelled to announce protest programmes because of thereluctance on the part of ruling parties—Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML—to draft the constitution.  He claimed to bring the ruling parties to agreement from the streets.

He said the opposition parties will, however, continue the efforts to forge consensus even in the midst of struggle.  

The UCPN (Maoist) chairman accused the NC and UML of attacking the spirit of the preamble of the interim constitution by trying to revert back to King Mahendra-era five development regions.

He said the ruling parties have been pressing to promulgate the new constitution on January 22 deadline against the regulations. He warned of retaliation from the streets and the Constituent Assembly (CA) if the NC and UML tried to push through the constitution.

Dahal went on to say that the ruling parties by riding on their numerical strength have been moving towards regression while denying the agreement signed with “progressive forces.”

He alleged that the NC and UML do not want constitution because the president, prime minister and the House speaker are from their parties. He, however, made it clear that his party would not join the government without drafting the new constitution. “Let no one make the mistake that all these activities are orchestrated for power.”

The UCPN (Maoist) led opposition alliance has announced protest programmes starting January 3.  According to their protest plan, they will demonstrate in all 75 districts on January 3 and enforced shutdown in Maoist states from Jan 9 to 13.   

On January 19, three days before the statute deadline, the opposition parties will enforce a nationwide strike.