The talks between the three parties failed to make any substantial headway after the Maoists demanded amendment to the Interim Constitution relating to the powers of the president concerning the army -- something NC and the UML have vehemently opposed.
According to an NC leader, the two parties have told the Maoists that it would not be acceptable for them to curtail the power of president concerning the army as the country is passing through transition after the decade long conflict and that Maoists still have 19,000 plus combatants with them.
“We have made it clear that we are ready to debate on the powers of the president concerning the army in the new constitution,” said an NC leader seeking anonymity. “However, we are not ready at any cost to curtail the powers of the president as provisioned in the interim constitution.”
NC and UML leaders engaged in negotiations said they have agreed to sit for a formal meeting for resolving the House deadlock after Dashain festival is over.
The Maoists have been staging protests both in the House and on the streets after the president Dr Ram Baran Yadav blocked the move of then prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to dismiss then army chief Rookmangud Katawal. They have vowed to continue with the protests until ´civilian supremacy´ is restored in the country.
Maoist protests to continue, party blames NC, UML
The Central Committee (CC) meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) held on Monday concluded that the political deadlock cannot be resolved unless the Nepali Congress and the UML demonstrate "full flexibility", party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma told media persons.
An extended meeting of the CC has also concluded that the mass meetings and demonstrations against the government have been successful. The meeting also concluded that it would be difficult to find an outlet for the problem if the NC failed to rise above its ´status quoist´ position.
The Maoists will continue with their protests unless the two ruling parties show flexibility to resolve the political impasse. “We will unveil fresh protests program after Dashain if our demands are not addressed,” added Sharma.
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