NDTV ONLINE

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s stunning remarks that an Indian businessman settled here “once made efforts” to make him the premier has stirred up a storm in the Himalayan Nation with the opposition demanding his resignation.

Prachanda also said that Sardar Pritam Singh, a pioneer trucking entrepreneur in Nepal, played a special and historic role in enhancing Nepal-India relations.

Prachanda made these remarks on Monday while addressing a function to launch the book, ‘Roads to the Valley: The Legacy of Sardar Pritam Singh in Nepal’ “He (Singh) had once made efforts to make me the prime minister,” Prachanda said.

“He travelled to Delhi several times and held multiple rounds of talks with political leaders in Kathmandu to make me the prime minister,” the Prime Minister said.

Prachanda also said that Singh has played a special and historic role in enhancing Nepal-India relations. The remarks have stirred up a storm and drawn criticism from several quarters.

The main opposition party Communist Party of Nepal-(Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) disrupted the National Assembly meeting on Wednesday, demanding the prime minister’s resignation.

Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli talking to media persons on Wednesday said that they want resignation from the Prime Minister, not a clarification.

Demanding the prime minister’s resignation, former prime minister Oli said, “his remarks have given a blow to national independence, dignity, the Constitution and the parliament itself.”

The House of Representatives meeting has been postponed until 3:00 pm today, following the disruption by opposition parties - the UML, the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) - over Prachanda’s remarks.

The members of the main Opposition Communist CPN-UML and the RPP shouted slogans that “a Prime Minister appointed by New Delhi does not have the right to continue in the post”.

Speaking in the lower house, UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant said, “The prime minister should resign on moral grounds. We don’t need a prime minister appointed by Delhi.” Not only the opposition, but the ruling parties have also expressed their dissatisfaction with Prachanda’s statement.

“The prime minister’s remarks are worthy of criticism. His remarks are wrong,” said Bishwa Prakash Sharma talking to journalists after the House meeting on Wednesday.