PM Oli rules out possibilities of referendum; says no compromise over territorial integrity, sovereignty

Kathmandu / Mar 11: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday ruled out possibilities of holding referendum over the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Addressing the 18th founding anniversary of National Security Council Secretariat at Singha Durbar, Oli said that the talk of holding the referendum over the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty goes beyond imagination.

“I am surprised to learn that a section of people in Nepal are paranoid after the secessionist movement came to an end,” he said.

Oli’s remark comes amid secessionist campaigner CK Raut supporters’ claim that the government had agreed to hold “referendum’ while striking 11-point agreement to end the secessionist movement last week.

With Raut supporters’ contradictory remarks, a new controversy has sparked in the political circle.

On Sunday, the supporters of Raut took to the street while welcoming CK Raut in Janakpur and demanded ‘Free Madhes’, going against the deal with the government.

The point number six in the agreement reached with the government states that Raut and his supporters will not distribute reading materials and carry out activities against the existing Constitution.

Contrarily, Raut was welcomed in Janakpur with banners and slogans of ‘free Madhesh’, sparking a fresh controversy.

The prime minister said that the secessionist movement is always detrimental to the country’s national interests whether it is a smaller or bigger one.

“Hence, the government decided to bring the secessionist force into the mainstream politics,” Oli said.