Kathmandu, 20 Dec 2014: The meeting of the three major political parties held to forge consensus on the contentious issues of the new constitution on Saturday again veered off track towards materialization of dissenting views and confrontation.
In the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and main opposition UCPN (Maoist) leaders failed to show flexibility on their respective stances, further deepening the disputes.
The ruling parties NC and UML on Friday had taken a decision for reaching a tangible decision in regards to discussion with the opposition parties.
At the beginning of the meeting, the ruling parties tabled a proposal for seeking the voting process to take the final decision on the disputed issues which the UCPN (Maoist) rejected while reiterating the opposition parties’ stance on finding a resolution through an agreement.
UCPN (Maoist) leaders left the meeting immediately after making their stance clear.
“At the beginning of the meeting PM Koirala called for seeking agreement on subjects of the constitution that were favourable for the agreement and sending the rest of the matters to voting process for final resolution,” Nepali Congress Vice President Ramchandra Poudel said.
After the meeting, UML Chairman KP Oli said the UCPN (Maoist) leaders voiced opposition towards the proposal for seeking conclusion on the number of federal states through a commission while forging agreement on feasible matters and deliver the constitution on time.
Likewise, UML senior leader Jhalanath Khanal said the ruling parties called for the meeting to hold discussion with the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties with a determination to reach a conclusion adding that the opposition leaders left the meeting immediately after the ruling parties tabled the proposal for timely promulgation of the new constitution.
However, UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha said the opposition left the meeting after the ruling parties reiterated their old stance calling for the voting process. He said the ruling parties ought to have first sought the views of the opposition at the beginning of the meeting.
Source:RSS
