KATHMANDU, Nov 3: In a new political development, the Maoists have indicated that they may let the current fiscal budget pass in the legislature-parliament. The Maoists expressed their willingness to let the budget pass after a meeting of the top leaders of the three major political parties at CPN-UML Standing Committee member KP Sharma Oli´s residence at Balkot, Bhaktapur, late Tuesday evening. [break]
“If we reach consensus to end the deadlock, the budget will be passed without difficulty. But if we fail to make any breakthrough, we shall hold a separate meeting of the parties regarding the budget,” said Maoist Vice Chair Narayankaji Shrestha. The budget for the current fiscal has not been passed yet due to continued obstruction of parliamentary proceedings by the Maoists.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and leaders Mohan Baidya, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, and Shrestha; NC leaders Ram Chandra Poudel, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Sharan Mahat; and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, UML leaders Oli and Ishwar Pokharel were present during the meeting that lasted for three hours till 10 p.m.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed the political deadlock including other issues concerning the ongoing peace process and agreed in principle to move ahead on the basis of consensus.
“We agreed to begin fresh round of talks in a new way, and continue the talks until we reach consensus. All of us agreed that the country would plunge into deep crisis if the parties continue to treat the problems frivolously. We should solve all the problems in their entirety,” said Shrestha.
According to NC leader Poudel, the leaders focused on finding the causes behind the situation of mistrust between the Maoists and other political parties. “The Maoists held the view that they have been alienated from the peace process, while we said that the Maoists have not changed their conduct (violent tactics),” said Poudel. He added that the leaders agreed to remove the root causes of misunderstanding among the parties as they have two common objectives -- writing of the new constitution and taking the peace process to its logical end.
UML leader Oli said that the leaders focused on removing both immediate problems as well as those that have cropped up during the peace process. After the meeting, Maoist Chairman Dahal said that the leaders held serious discussions to end the current impasse, while PM Nepal said he doesn´t want to speak until the talks mature in the coming days.
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