KATHMANDU, March 17: President Ram Baran Yadav Saturday talked to chiefs of four major political parties -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic) -- seeking details on progress to accomplish the twin tasks of constitution writing and the peace process.
The head of state expressed his serious concern on the stalled peace process and statute drafting in view of the fast approaching May 27 deadline when the renewed tenure of the Constituent Assembly (CA) expires. UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar went to the president´s office at Shital Niwas on Saturday.[break]
The president´s press advisor Rajendra Dahal said the head of state called the leaders to his residence Shital Niwas to know what was happening on peace and constitution and whether the parties were well-prepared and committed to conclude the peace process and promulgate new constitution within the given time.
"Chiefs of the major political parties are the ones who are chiefly responsible for concluding the tasks, but top leaders themselves are found to be making remarks on what will happen if the twin tasks are not accomplished within the given deadline. This situation made the president worried and led him to call them at his office," Dahal told Republica.
"One leader would say in public that there is no possibility of statute by May 27, another would say no statute in the given timeline would cause dismemberment of the country while yet another leader would announce that no statute would lead the country to a bloodshed."
According to him, the president alerted the leaders not to make such irresponsible remarks and disappoint people. The president urged the leaders to work sincerely and to spread optimism in the people. "You leaders are the ones who are largely responsible to guide the country safely from the political crisis," Dahal quoted Yadav as saying.
He also pressed the leaders to settle disagreement on setting up commission on truth and reconciliation and another commission on disappearances without delay. President was of the view that the measures to be taken by the political parties and the government with regard to forming the two commissions would determine the country´s image in the international community.
"He wants the four sides (Maoist, NC, UML and Madhesi parties) to stand united and conclude the tasks of peace and statute," Dahal told reporters while emerging from the president´s office.