Nepal minister asks UN not to interfere in internal affairs

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Nepal's Information and communication minister Agni Sapkota has asked the UN not to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

Sapkota, who is also a Maoist leader, was responding to questions raised by journalists regarding his involvement in killing of a man in Kavre district in 2005 while he was the Maoist commander of the area.

UN has raised serious concern over the killing saying that the government has breached peace agreement by appointing human rights violator as the minister.

"It was true that the incident had happened at that time, but it was wrong to make personal allegations against me as I was only carrying out the party's instructions," he said.

What is past is gone and we should focus our attention towards the future, he said.

The issue was raised at this moment to defame the Maoist party ahead of the next general elections, he alleged.

Sapkota also ruled out the possibility of promulgating a new constitution within the May 28 deadline but pointed out that a unified draft of the constitution could be written which would be sent to the public for debate and the new constitution could be written within next 4-5 months period after extending the tenure of the Constituent Assembly.

To a question, he said the Maoists are committed towards peace process, multiparty democracy and press freedom.

He said that the major political parties including the Maoists, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have come closer as regards to the modalities of the army integration and constitution drafting.

The Maoists are sincere to the peace process and the modalities of army integration will be prepared before the May 28 deadline to draft the constitution, he said.