The Maoist leaders refused to budge from their precondition in a meeting with leaders from the ruling CPN-UML Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s residence in Nayabazaar Tuesday morning.[break]
Chairman Dahal, senior vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and secretary Post Bahadur Bogati from the Maoist side and Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and leaders Bharat Mohan Adhikari and Yuvraj Gyawali from UML were present in the meeting.
The UML leaders reached at Dahal´s residence with a proposal to create an environment for implementation of the three-point agreement.
But the Maoists said that there was no point in reaching fresh agreement as the ruling coalition had betrayed the Maoists by not implementing the "gentleman´s understanding" that said the prime minister would step down within five days.
"We told UML leaders that they are free to implement it or not. It´s up to them," Baidya said, adding, "It´s not we who should be worried. As the prime minister didn´t step down within the said [five days] deadline, we have nothing to expect from them now."
The Maoists also reiterated that they would obstruct the parliamentary business until the prime minister does not tender his resignation. "We will not allow parliament to hold meetings until the agreement is implemented," he added. The government is making final preparation to call the budget session within a few days.
The UML leaders urged the Maoists to initiate dialogues over formation of national consensus government by implementing the agreement. But the Maoists said they would enter any agenda item only after the prime minister´s resignation.
However, Khanal said they held positive and fruitful discussion. "The discussion focused on implementing the agreement and ending the ongoing deadlock. It was positive," Khanal told reporters. He said the prime minister´s resignation would come once other points in the agreement were implemented.
Meanwhile, Bogati said that the Maoists held similar meeting with Nepali Congress (NC) leaders on Monday. "The talks with UML was more positive than NC leaders," he said.
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