NC, UML to talk to Maoists on Friday

KATHMANDU, Dec 31: Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML are scheduled to hold talks with the agitating UCPN (Maoist) on Friday. They have decided to push the agenda of the management of the Maoist combatants with priority. [break]



This is the first meeting of the NC and the UML with the Maoists after the latter unilaterally lifted house obstruction on December 23.



The major parties in the coalition government have decided to ask the Maoists to help expedite management of the Maoist combatants before drafting the new constitution.



According to NC General Secretary Bimalendra Nidhi, the talks will focus on the ways to expedite management of the Maoist army. “We have concluded that unless management of the Maoist army is ensured environment conducive for drafting the new constitution and taking the peace process to a logical end cannot be created,” he said.



Members of the task force formed earlier by the NC, UML and the Maoists to resolve the political deadlock will take part in the meeting.



Earlier, the NC and the UML had claimed that the Maoists have deliberately been delaying the process of integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants.

Related story

Let’s live and let live