Kathmandu, July 2:

Nepali Congress leaders Monday said that NC would not be ready to accept the ordinance budget if it was introduced without forging political consensus.

They also said that the caretaker government had no authority to bring the ordinance budget and demanded resignation of Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.

Speaking at an interaction organised by NC Kathmandu committee on the occasion of 89th birth anniversary of late leader Girija Prasad Koirala, they said that the country was facing big challenges due to the Maoists’ ill intended move to capture the state power.

They also said that the Maoist party and its coalition parties were responsible for the current political crisis and the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly (CA).

The leaders also claimed that late Koirala’s principle of national unity; reconciliation and durable peace were the only path to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the country.

Addressing the function, NC president Sushil Koirala said that the new constitution would not be drafted without political consensus and added, "The Maoists are not ready for consensus politics."

He said that the Maoists-led government announced the date for the new CA polls without forging political consensus and NC would not accept any election announced without minimum understanding among the parties.

He said, "The Maoists’ steps are against the democratic norms and values and NC could not support the Maoists and their anti-democratic moves."

He also clarified that NC would not accept the ordinance budget prepared by the government and added that the caretaker government had no rights to bring the new budget without political consensus.

Koirala asked the Prime Minister to step down and pave the way for the formation of a consensus government.

He said that the current political and constitutional crisis resulted due to the Maoist’s unfair politics and power capturing mentality.

NC general secretary Prakash Man Singh said that the Maoists and Unified Democratic Madhesi Front were responsible for the current political deadlock.

He also blamed the government and its coalition parties for the CA dissolution.

He also clarified that holding the CA polls was not possible.

He said, "If the Prime Minister was a moral person, he could pave the way to form a new consensus government. He has not moral, constitutional, political and legal rights to stay in the post of the Prime Minister."

NC general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that the Prime Minister was trying to protect only his chair (of PM), not the CA to promulgate the constitution.

He said that the new government would be formed under the NC leadership.

NC leader Narahari Acharya said that a new campaign across the nation was essential to save democracy.

NC Kathmandu Committee President Bhimsen Das Pradhan said that the NC should forward the name of its prime ministerial candidate.

Meanwhile, G. P. Koirala Foundation for Peace and Development also organized a workshop on ‘Civilians’ role in transition’ on the occasion.

In the function chaired by its chairperson Sujata Koirala, various persons including former chief justice Anup Raj Sharma, actor Rajesh Hamal, Professors Kapil Shrestha and others highlighted various aspects of late Koirala.

A music album ‘Shikhar Purush Girija Prasad Koirala’ was also launched on the occasion.