Kathmandu, Jan 23 (ANI): CPN-UML General Secretary Jhala Nath Khanal has said the country is facing a grave crisis due to the "ultra-leftist" line of the Maoists and "rightist status-quo" of the Nepali Congress.Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, Khanal bemoaned that because the political parties have remained adamant on their respective lines the country has not been able to make any headway on pressing matters.

He claimed that without unity and understanding between the democratic forces the problems facing the country can't be resolved.

"Drafting of the new Constitution in the slated time and restructuring the state in a democratic manner are the pressing needs of the country at present," he added.

Referring to the Maoist affiliated youth wing YCL and student wing, he said those who don't understand democracy are engaging in senseless violence.

"Although YCL are repeatedly attacking our cadres, we have always maintained that a solution should be found through dialogue," he added.

Khanal's remarks comes, a day after clashes between the Maoist affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students' Union- Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) and the UML affiliated All Nepal National Free Students' Union (ANNFSU) at the Prtihvi Narayan Campus in Pokhara which left twenty four people, including police personnel injured, Nepalnews reported. (ANI)