Nine ministers to talk to parties

KATHMANDU, May 14: The government has directed nine ministers in the cabinet to hold consultation with political parties and come up with a concrete proposal to extend Constituent Assembly (CA) term. A cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar on Friday took a decision to this effect.



The ministers are entrusted with the responsibility to consult parties and study constitutional provisions relating to the CA term extension before coming up with the proposal. [break]



The cabinet members entrusted with the responsibility include ministers for Law, Home, Tourism, Information and Communications, Industry, Culture and Federal Affairs, Education, Forest and a minister without portfolio.



Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh said the ministers will study various options for CA term extension provisioned in the Interim Constitution and draft a proposal in line with suggestions from political parties. The ministers´ panel will also take into account differing views on whether the CA term should be extended by six months or a year.



Talking to media persons after the meeting, Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel said the cabinet will take a decision after the ministers submit the proposal.



Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had apprised all cabinet members, including state and assistant ministers, about his consultation with all political parties on the issue over the past few days.



During the meeting, cabinet members suggested the prime minister to take decision on CA term extension by bringing all parties, including the main opposition UCPN (Maoist), into confidence.



During the meeting, the ministers argued that conclusion of peace process and promulgation of the new constitution is not possible without commitment of the UCPN (Maoist) in this regard. "There is no point in extending the CA term just for enjoying monthly allowance and other perks and facilities for more period," Singh quoted his colleagues as saying.



There cabinet members argued that the Maoists must commit to the six-point agenda sorted out earlier by the three parties to guarantee peace and promulgation of the new constitution.



GPK Respiratory Treatment Center to be set up



The cabinet decided to set up Girija Prasad Koirala National Respiratory Treatment Center in memory of the late Nepali Congress leader. The meeting also gave nod to formulate Organized Crime Act 2067 BS.



According to Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel, the cabinet also endorsed the report submitted by a committee formed to investigate into the murder of Jamim Shah and asked the Home Ministry to implement its recommendations.



The cabinet also forwarded a report prepared on inclusiveness to the ministry concerned for study before bringing it into implementation and approved Nepal Army Account Group Regulations 2067 BS.



koshraj@myrepublica.com

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