Parties back in blame game
KATHMANDU, March 9: The much-awaited talks between the ruling and opposition parties held on Saturday failed to generate optimism let alone making any headway in settling the key contentious issues of constitution making.
The talks between the ruling and opposition parties that took place after a deadlock of around seven weeks didn’t enter into any of the thorny issues.
Leaders from both the camps have instead accused the other side of joining talks reluctantly instead of coming up with serious homework and preparations.
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“We didn’t find any willingness and commitment in the ruling parties to make concerted efforts for settling the issues. So we aren’t encouraged,” UCPN (Maoist) chief whip Giriraj Mani Pokharel told Republica.
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and leaders from other political parties briefed the party representatives during the 30-party alliance meeting about their impression of talks with the ruling parties.
They informed leaders from other the opposition parties that ruling party leaders were not taking the talks seriously.
“Absence of CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and other top leaders from the same party indicates their lack of seriousness,” said Mahendra Raya Yadav, the chairman of the Tarai-Madhes Sadbhavana Party. “They are not giving any importance to our ultimatum as well.”
UML Chairman Oli and other two top leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal didn’t attend the talks. Oli remained absent citing his poor health while Khanal is abroad.
Dahal told other leaders that they felt betrayed when the ruling leaders didn’t respond seriously as they had expected based on the prime minister’s commitment.
However, ruling parties find the opposition parties unwilling to settle the issues sincerely.
CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel said the opposition does not want to enter the core issues and hold decisive talks because they are in a state of indecision.
Pokharel said that as UCPN (Maoist) leaders are in a state of confusion; they are always in search of one excuse or another to avoid serious negotiations and blame others for the failure of the talks.
“UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Dahal and his party are in a serious fix because they have raised very wrong, impractical and unfeasible issues which can never be addressed by the CA,” said Pokharel. “But they can’t admit this in public. So they are always in search of one or another excuses for avoiding serious talks.”
Pokharel also claimed that the UCPN (Maoist) decision to join hands with those forces who want to disrupt the CA shows “their confused mentality”.
Meanwhile, the UCPN (Maoist) that had earlier boycotted all activities of CA and parliamentary committees has now decided to attend all parliament committee meetings and other parliamentary proceedings.
