KATHMANDU, March 25: Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) vice Chair Rajendra Shrestha has clarified that the party is not quitting the government right away.

The regional parties FSFN and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), who have formed a coalition government in Province 2, have opened the door for formal dialogues for the unification process, which was stalled for one and a half year.

But the RJPN, who have chosen to stay out of the Nepal Communist Party co-chair K P Sharma Oli-led government and also recently withdrew its support, asked FSFN to quit the government to clear path for merging process.

However, FSFN Chair Upendra Yadav, who is the deputy prime minister and heads health ministry, refused the RJPN’s request stating they would think about quitting the government after the merger.

“RJPN’s request to FSFN to leave the government was not reasonable. We are not in the mood to quit the government right away,” Shrestha told Reporters’ Club Nepal.

“Party’s philosophy and agendas are the key ingredients for merger possibilities. Therefore, I don’t think FSFN staying or quitting the government really matter in the unification dialogue,” he added.

“Despite the differences, both the parties are positive about the unification.”

According to Shrestha, if the government keeps hesitating to amend the constitution as promised, the FSFN will leave the government.

Also Read:

Both RJPN, FSFN positive about merger: Raj Kishor Yadav

KATHMANDU, May 26: Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Co-chair Rajendra Shrestha has accused the Nepal Communist Party-led government of being unproductive and arrogant.

“The ruling two left parties united during the honeymoon period. Thus, the government has become more arrogant lately,” Shrestha told Reporters’ Club Nepal.

“The policies and programs the government brought earlier this week is no different than those introduced by the erstwhile governments. So, I do not think this is an achievement,” he added.

Shrestha furthered that though the government has not done anything so much controversial during its 100 days, its works and achievements are not remarkable expect crackdown on decades-long syndicate on public transport sector.

“There are no evident achievements of the government expect end of syndicate,” he furthered.

He further said that the government claims that the bilateral relation with India has improved. But “its foreign policy is yet to reach a balancing point.”

“The government has exaggeratedly described its ambitious plans to the people, vision of prosper and happy Nepal for example, but the government has failed to implement them,” he continued.

Shrestha also accused the government of conspiring to weaken the federalism. He added, “Unless the government fulfils our demand of constitution amendment, FSFN will not join the government.”

“We need a written commitment on constitution revision from the prime minister,” he added.

KATHMANDU, April 26: Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) leader Rajendra Shrestha has warned to withdraw its support to government and resume fresh protest if the government fails to address their demand of constitution amendment.

Prime Minister Oli has assured the Madhes based parties to amend the constitution on the basis of necessity and justification. But FSFN and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) have demanded the Prime Minister sign the joint draft prepared by the both sides.

Despite making a little progress, the talks between the Madhes-based parties and the government came to an abrupt halt after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli declined to give a written commitment to amend the constitution—minimizing the chances of FSFN and RJPN joining the government.

“Prime Minister Oli was positive about the revision of constitution, thus he requested us to participate in his government. But, we cannot join the government forgetting the agenda of constitution amendment,” Shrestha told Reporters’ Club.

“But, since our party went to elections promising the people to amend the constitution, we cannot do so. Our struggle for constitution amendment will continue until our demands are met,” he added.

Shrestha further said that there is no need to obstruct the parliament adding, “We will continue talks with the government and try to settle this issue through dialogues.”

“But if the government fails to meet our demands yet, we will resume fresh protest,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Co-chair Rajendra Shrestha said that his party had begun talks with CPN-UML about possibilities of joining the government since UML’s previous stance on constitution amendment have changed.

“UML has cast off its previous stance on constitution amendment issues. They have accepted that this constitution has error,” said Shrestha while taking to Rishi Dhamala at a radio program Nepali Bahas.

UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali and the party’s senior leader Subas Nembang held negotiations with FSFN senior leaders Ashok Rai, Shrestha and General Secretary Ram Sahaya Yadav at the UML’s parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar on Wednesday.

UML has maintained that the constitution can be amended based on ‘necessity’ and ‘justification’.

“It seems they are ready to address the Madhes issues through amendment. We held primary phase discussion with the ruling party about government formation,” Shrestha added.

“If we (ruling and Madhes centric parties) can move forward together we can succeed in fulfilling the dreams of economic transformation in a new way. But for that, the differences that occurred while promulgating the new constitution should be settled.”

He however said that his party will join the government only if UML guarantees to address the grievances of Madhes.

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.