The main opposition on Thursday reiterated its position on integration number a day after Maoist leadership told the Maoist combatants that the agreed integration number, 6,500, can be increased in consultation with the major parties. [break]
"Integration number cannot be increased. It makes no sense to sign an agreement if it were to be misinterpreted. We cannot achieve our goal of concluding the peace process by December 15," said NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula, who was one of the leaders who had negotiated the November 1 agreement that fixed the integration number.
Sitaula said that a meeting of NC office bearers discussed the issue as Maoist leaders have been making statements publicly that the integration number should be increased in view of an unexpected number of combatants opting for integration.
The meeting also discussed the party´s position on issues pertaining to state restructuring and formed a committee headed by party leader Narahari Acharya to give suggestions to the party´s representative on the state restructuring commission.
In the meantime, NC President Sushil Koirala urged Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai for an honest implementation of the recent agreements on concluding the peace process, constitution drafting and forming a national consensus government.
According to Laxman Dhakal, Koirala´s personal secretary, the NC president expressed concern over non-implementation of the agreement on returning seized properties. "The party president drew the attention of the prime minister to the fact the Maoist cadres have recaptured the lands even after they were returned to rightful owners in recent days," said Dhakal about the meeting between Koirla and the prime minister.
The prime minister had reached Koirala´s residence Thursday morning to brief Koirala on the progress made in the peace process.
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