N24 Correspondent, KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said that the government is ready to step down if consensus is forged on the remaining issues of the peace and constitution drafting processes.
Speaking at a news conference organised by the Revolutionary Journalists’ Association Siraha today, DPM Shrestha said that the incumbent government was not a hurdle for forging national consensus.

“Quitting the government is not a big deal for us, said Shrestha who is also the Vice Chairman of ruling party UCPN (Maoist), but peace and constitution should to be guaranteed before our resignation,” he added.

He claimed that the nation would plunge into a grave accident if the government stepped down without  the guarantee of national consensus.

Stating that there was no alternative to forging national consensus to take the country on right track, he urged the political parties to relinquish their stances and  rise above the partisan interests bearing in mind prolonged political deadlock in the country.

Responding to a query of journalists about the President’s rejecting ordinances sent by the government, Minister Shrestha expressed discontent over the president’s move and said the ordinances were sent back without consultations with the government.

“We are serious towards possible clashes between the government and the president,” he added.

Earlier today,  Shrestha who is also the minister for local development  directed  the employees in the local bodies in the district to be serious towards their duties and vowed action against those Village Development Committee ( VDC) secretaries  turning deaf ears towards government’s call to return to the respective working stations.

“The government is committed to promoting the culture of reward and punishment in bureaucracy,” the DPM said. RSS