Leader of UCPN(Maoist) Posta Bahadur Bogati said that his party was writing a formal letter to the Baidya-led alliance on Tuesday without setting any preconditions. "As the CPN-Maoist took the earlier letter as setting out preconditions, we are writing another letter today to clarify that there are no preconditions," said Bogati. [break]
Speaking at a press conference organized at the Reporters Club in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Bogati said, "The concerns raised by Baidya are merely a publicity stunt."
"The CPN-Maoist is pressing its demands with a loud voice just as a publicity stunt," he reiterated, maintaining that the government is not committed to fulfill the entire range of their demands.
He claimed that the four parties were serious about holding talks with the CPN-Maoist, adding that the 11-point agreement and the 25-point ordinance endorsed by the president would not be scrapped. He also clarified that the four parties were ready for a roundtable conference.
CPN-Maoist Secretary Dev Gurung said the door for negotiations with the HLPC was yet to be opened.
"Unless the 11-point accord and 25-point ordinance are scrapped, we will not sit for any talks with the four major parties," said Gurung, adding, "Those agreements were endorsed by the president under the direction of international actors."
He further stated that the polls conducted under the status quo would not be acceptable to his party.
Indicating the major parties, Gurung said, "If you people have the power to hold the election while ignoring us, you are free to do so." He said his party would disrupt the November polls if their demands were not met beforehand. He accused the major parties of breaching protocol when the Indian foreign minister visited Nepal recently.
Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav said, "The four parties are not serious about the demands of the agitating parties." He said it was meaningless holding polls under the present circumstances.
"The Regmi government is just a tool of the four-party syndicate," he said, adding, "The current government is engaged in corruption and they are wasting valuable time on the transfer and promotion of bureaucrats rather than on building a conducive environment for November."
He said that Regmi must resign from the post of chief justice to pave the ways for elections.
Leader of the Nepali Congress Arjun Narsingh KC said, "The four parties could not address all the demands of the agitating parties. Political negotiations are always based on give and take." He further said the CA poll would not be rescheduled under any circumstance.
CPN (UML) leader Shankar Pokharel said that the poll would be legitimate as the major parties are ready to participate. "International experience shows that elections become meaningful with the participation of the major parties," said Pokharel, stating that Baidya´s absence from the election would not make any difference.
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