Oli, CK Raut two sides of same coin, says Rajendra Shrestha

KATHMANDU, July 18: Rajendra Shrestha, vice-chairman of the Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal (FSF), has said that the CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and CK Raut are the two sides of a same coin.

“The UML is showing double standard. If it comes to power, the country will disintegrate,” said Shrestha while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Tuesday.

He further accused the party of holding the nation in status quo and denying outlet to the ongoing political stand off while referring to the party’s denial to support the constitution amendment bill.

“The CPN-UML is a regressive party. You can realize that if you consider the fact that it is obstructing the proposal at a time when the Rashtriya Prajantra Party (RPP) is supporting it,” he said.

On the occasion, he also claimed that his party has not demanded to recognize Hindi as a national language. “I have participated in various multi-party dialogues and in none of them such a demand was put forward. The CPN-UML is racking up the issue by fabricating it as our demand and extending the political impasse.”

Shrestha also warned that his party will boycott the province and federal election if the constitution is not amended immediately after the third round of local election.

“Our party has proposed an amendment to the under-discussion amendment bill. Our proposal should be endorsed before the province election,” he added. He was of the view that all the political parties should move ahead by supporting the bill to end to all the political stalemate.

Stating that his party had become closer to the Baburam Bhattarai led Naya Shakti party, he highlighted the importance of merger between the two parties at the current circumstances.