Ambassador Rae held separate meetings on Friday with CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal just ahead of the crucial three-party meeting that decided to put off voting process on the constitutional bill until Sunday. The voting process was set to begin on Friday despite opposition from a section of political parties that have boycotted the CA process.
Sources close to Oli said Ambassador Rae inquired about the plan the parties have on taking forward the constitution-making process and to address the demands put forth by the agitating parties.
The envoy also expressed concerns over growing incidents of violence along the southern border amid the intensifying agitations of Madhes-based parties.
According to Dahal's personal secretary Chudamani Khadka, Ambassador Rae conveyed India's message that it wants Nepal's constitution to be promulgated at the earliest.
Khadka claimed that there was no discussion on halting the voting process on constitution bill during the meeting. "There was no talk about halting the voting process. Envoy Rae said that the decision should be taken by Nepal's parties themselves," said Khadka. Dahal and Dr Bhattarai had gone to Baluwatar to take part in the three-party meeting after meeting Ambassador Rae.
Ambassador Rae also held meeting with the newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rajendra Chhetri. According to a statement issued by the NA's Directorate of Public Relations, the meeting focused on issues related to mutual interests.
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