Mohsin?s remarks are `outrageous?: leaders Leaders of major political parties and civil society have expressed strong reservations over the remarks made by the government?s spokesman, Dr Mohammed Mohsin, that the country would head towards an authoritarian regime if the present government failed. Minister of Information and Communications Dr Mohammed Mohsin (File Photo) Talking to Nepalnews Thursday, Nepali Congress spokesman, Arjun Narsingh KC, said NC denounced the published views of the government?s spokesman. ?An authoritarian regime can?t be an alternative to even the present system of government. We see the Minister?s remarks as part of the conspiracy to push the country towards further `regression,? he added. KC further insisted that all the problems in the country could be addressed within the democratic framework. ?Nepali Congress is of firm belief that the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament will help in rescuing the country from the present political stalemate as fair elections are simply not possible in the existing condition,? said KC. Leading newspapers published from Kathmandu on Thursday have quoted Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Mohsin, as saying that the alternative to this government could be unthinkable. Talking to select editors and publishers of major dailies at his Ministry in the Singha Durbar premises Wednesday, Mohsin said the present government would have to resign if it could not initiate process for holding elections by mid-April next year, as per the mandate given to it by His Majesty the King. ?If the present government fails the country would have to face a ?tough alternative.? Hence the Maoists should come over to the table of negotiations,? Kantipur daily quoted Mohsin as saying. The Kathmandu Post daily quoted Dr Mohsin as saying that a dictatorial system was required to bring peace and maintain law and order in the country, so that the sovereignty of the people could be handed back to them as soon as possible. Commenting on Mohsin?s remarks, former law minister and leader of CPN (UML)-- a major coalition partner in the government?Subash Nemwang, said he did not know under what situation the minister make those remarks. ?If he has been quoted correctly, the political parties should take it very seriously. I have never known any problems ever addressed by an authoritarian rule. All the issues faced by the country will and can be addressed within the democratic structure,? he told Nepalnews. Nemwang further said his party would, probably, discuss the views expressed by the government?s spokesperson. Spokesman of the ruling Nepali Congress (Democratic), Dr Minendra Rijal said if Mohsin had been quoted correctly, his prediction (that the country will soon experience an authoritarian government, if the current government fails to bring the Maoists to the negotiating table) is itself very wrong. ?I am sure the present government will succeed in accomplishing its major duties,? Rijal told Nepalnews adding, ?As far as I have known Mohsin, I believe that he may not have said such things to the press.? Subodh Raj Pyakurel, chairman of Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC)-- a leading hunman rights organisation, said Mohsin?s remarks that the sovereignty now lies with the King since there is no parliament is incorrect. ?The sovereignty still lies with the people and they are the final arbiter,? he told us when asked for his reaction. Pyakurel also expressed hope that Maoists, too, would consider what type of designs are being hatched if they don?t agree to sit for peace negotiations. ?In that sense, I take Mohsin?s remarks in a positive note,? he added. Analysts say Dr Mohsin?s remarks could be a ?desensitising move? to what may be in store of the illiberal and conservative elements within the government. In any case, his remarks are likely to widen ?differences of opinion? even within the ruling coalition, they said. nepalnews.com Prakash Dhakal Nov 11 04