Prachanda has no right to sign new treaties: Koirala

Kathmandu, Sept 13 (PTI) Even as Nepal Prime Minister
Prachanda has sought the review of the landmark 1950
Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship treaty, former premier G.P.
Koirala on Saturday said that the Maoist government has no
right to sign any treaty as it was only a "caretaker"
administration.

Ahead of his first visit to India after becoming the
Prime Minister, Prachanda said he aimed to discuss review of
the 1950 trade and transit treaty as well as other past
agreements, including the Kosi agreement signed in 1954.

"I firmly believe that the 1950 treaty should be
replaced by a new treaty and during my parleys in New Delhi we
will discuss the matters, as also the Kosi agreement,"
Prachanda said in an exclusive interview to P.T.I.

Koirala, the president of the Nepali Congress (N.C.),
said the present government has no right to sign any treaty
and agreements of long-lasting effect as it was only a
"caretaker government".

Inaugurating a conference of lawyers in the capital
today, the veteran leader underlined that the Maoist-led
government was a "caretaker" one and its main duty was to
frame a new constitution for the country.

"The government's main work is to carry forward the
peace process, create political stability and frame the
constitution and for this the N.C. will help," the
octogenarian leader was quoted as saying by the Kantipur
online on Saturday.

Accusing the government of focusing on political game,
Koirala warned that the main Opposition party would be
watchful if the government derails from its constitutional
path.

Prachanda, who will be leading a 42-member delegation
on his five-day 'political' visit to India from September 14,
is expected to raise the issue of maintenance of the Kosi
barrage. Recent floods in the river have caused dislocation of
hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border
and immense damage to livestock and property.