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The main opposition CPN-UML has decided to oppose the impeachment motion filed against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana.

A Secretariat meeting of the party held on Sunday evening concluded that the ruling coalition parties registered the impeachment motion to weaken the democracy, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel said.

He said that the Parliamentary Party meeting scheduled for Monday will take further decisions on the issue.

As many as 98 lawmakers from the ruling parties--Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist)--filed the impeachment motion this afternoon.

The UML will hold the Central Secretariat meeting on Monday to discuss the impeachment motion registered by the ruling parties against the Chief Justice.

"We have taken it not only as an attack on the court but also an attack on the democracy as a whole and an attack on the sovereignty of the Nepali people," he said. 

Leader Pokharel said that this is a conspiracy to push the local level elections.

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the ruling coalition parties registered the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana at the Parliament Secretariat to end the deadlock of the Supreme Court.

He said so while talking to journalists at a programme organised in Janakpur on Sunday.

“There were problems in the judiciary. Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana was responsible for all the problems. The ruling coalition parties filed the impeachment motion to end the impasse,” he said.

As many as 98 lawmakers of the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) filed the motion against the Chief Justice this afternoon.

In another context, he said that some elements who are against the 12-point agreement and peace process are hatching a conspiracy to break the ruling coalition.

He was of the opinion that the people should stage demonstrations against those elements.

Nepali Congress leader NP Saud said that the party will forge national consensus to garner two-thirds majority for passing the impeachment motion filed against Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana.

Talking to journalists during a meeting of the Executive Committee held at the party office in Sanepa on Sunday, leader Saud said that the party will hold discussions with the main opposition CPN-UML among other parties to forge consensus.

“Judiciary was not running smoothly. The Nepal Bar Association has been staging demonstrations for the past four months demanding resignation of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana. The parties registered the impeachment motion to unseat the Chief Justice after he did not pave the way out to bring reforms in the judiciary,” he said.

“There is no reason for the parties to be worried by the vitality of the Chief Justice. We have decided to file the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Rana to resolve the problems of the court,” he added.

Nepal Bar Association (NBA) welcomed the decision of the parties to file an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana.

General Secretary of the NBA Lilamani Paudel welcomed the decision of the ruling parties to file the motion against Chief Justice Rana.

“This is a welcome move of the parties to file the motion against CJ Rana. I would like to thank all the lawmakers for the same. Now, we will change the mode of protests,” he said.

He, however, said they will continue the campaign to end political interference in the judiciary.

The NBA has been staging demonstrations for the past four months demanding resignation of Chief Justice Rana.

The NBA has also demanded investigation into the property of Rana.

As many as 98 lawmakes from the ruling parties filed the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Rana this afternoon.