The meeting, held at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar and lasted about three hours, could not come up with a definite stance on the PM’s resignation after leaders aired divergent views on the issue. [break]
On the occasion, NC and UDMF leaders pressed for PM Khanal’s prompt resignation on the grounds of the five-point agreement and his own personal commitment.
Mahendra Yadav, Chairman of the Terai Madhes Democratic Party-Nepal, said they expressed their opinion that the PM´s reluctance for his resignation itself is the major hurdle in the peace process and should immediately step down to pave the way for consensus.
Yadav also informed that the opposition leaders argued that it was no use waiting for the PM´s resignation till August 31 as a lot could be done in resolving the issues of the peace process if the PM steps down right now.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal however asked the leaders not to doubt on PM Khanal’s intent and assured that the PM would stand down as per his commitment, according to NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.
A day after expiry of the deadline set by himself for his resignation, PM Jhalanath Khanal called the meeting to see if consensus could be forged on the outstanding issues of the peace process that would allow him to continue with his office at least for now.
A day earlier, a three-party meeting called to discuss providing a breakthrough in the peace process had fizzled out after NC leaders walked out showing their dissent over non-inclusion of UDMF, the alliance of five Madhes-based parties, in the meeting.
Earlier on, PM Khanal had announced that he would step down on August 13 if no concrete progress is achieved in the long-standing issues of the peace process.
Sources have claimed PM Khanal is set to announce his resignation in the House meeting on Monday for it to be forwarded to the President for approval, if today’s meeting fails to reach a common understanding on the issues.
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