A meeting of top leaders from the three major parties as well as taskforce members from the parties held at the prime minister's official residence at Baluwatar on Thursday, decided to make all out effort for forging a consensus at the earliest. However, the agitating parties have called for a convincing response to their 11-point demand if there is to be consensus.
"We have decided to expedite our homework with a view to reaching a written agreement with the agitating parties before the next meeting of parliament," said UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Parliament's meeting scheduled for January 19 is likely to move forward the constitutional amendment bill with which the agitating parties are not happy. Emerging from the meeting, Shrestha further claimed that the taskforce team formed between the major parties and the agitating ones will iron out all differences at a meeting on Friday, paving the way for the written agreement. A meeting of the joint taskforce has been called for Friday.
edHowever, Ram Naresh Ray, a taskforce member from UDMF, said consensus is possible only if the major parties come with a convincing response to their demands. "We are not for prolonging our agitations, but the major parties must come up with reliable and convincing ideas for addressing our demands," Ray told Republica.
The agitating political parties have been holding bandhs and sit-ins at the Nepal-India customs points, triggering a blockade by the southern neighbor.
Nepali Congress member on the taskforce Mahesh Acharya said that they have informed the top leaders about a possible meeting point on the constitution amendment, reviewing of delineation of provinces, citizenship provisions, inclusion policy in the Nepal Army, adding languages to the official language list and formation of a national assembly that is more inclusive.
"We believe the dispute on demarcations could be settled through a political committee with a three month deadline," Acharya said. "Once the committee comprising leaders from major political parties reaches a conclusion the agreed upon issues could be endorsed through the constitution amendment."
However, the agitating UDMF has declined the proposal. "We had already declined the three month deadline; it should not be more than one month," said Ray of Tarai Madhes Shadbhawana Party. The agitating parties have sought clearity of jurisdiction and authenticity for the propos political committee.
Related story
UDMF rejects new amendment bill
