KATHMANDU, Dec 12: Major political parties on Friday stepped up their efforts to persuade the agitating Madhes-based parties over endorsing the constitution amendment bill along with the bill on the reconstruction authority through parliament, while the protesting parties reiterated their stance on seeking a political solution through a package deal.
Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala on Friday evening met with Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Chairman Mahantha Thakur while NC Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel and other leaders held a meeting with parliamentarians of the agitating parties earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition gave continuity to talks with the UDMF on Friday although the main opposition Nepali Congress did not appear for the meeting. According to leaders, the meeting held at Singha Durbar was focused on persuading the Madhes-based parties to move forward both the bills together in parliament.
According to NC spokesperson Dilendra Prasad Badu, the NC gave prior information to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that they would not be appearing for the meeting. "We suggested to the ruling coalition to create an environment for including both the bills together in parliamentary business. Likewise, we had informed about our efforts to persuade the agitating parties," said Badu.
Badu claimed that the two meetings held with Madhes-based parties by NC leaders were positive, and expressed hope that the Madhes-based parties would be persuaded over his party's proposal.
"We have suggested to the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) to support moving forward both bills together in parliament. If they still feel the bill is incomplete, we can address this through amendment proposals within parliament," said NC spokesperson Badu.
"We have also suggested to the Madhesi leaders that we cannot focus on the disputed issue unless we start the process of settlling the issues which have already gained political consensus," he added.
However, the Madhesi leaders argued that the ongoing Madhes movement would not be addressed without a package political deal which covers the issue of provincial delineation.
"Yesterday (Thursday), we had told the major three parties that out of humanitarian consideration we will not obstruct parliament in tabling the bill on the reconstruction authority but what happened in parliament is known to all," said Laxman Lal Karna, co-chairman of Sadbhavana Party.
"They again reiterated that they want to move forward both the bills together while we are against moving forward the constitution amendment bill without reaching a package deal. Today's (Friday's) talks could not enter into the core contentious issue of provincial delineation," he added.
TMDP Vice-Chairman Hridayash Tripathi said that the move to endorse the constitution amendment bill without addressing the issue of provincial delineation could irritate people in the street in Madhes.
"NC and the parties in the ruling coalition are inclined to avoid the issue of provincial delineation by moving forward the amendment bill but they should understand that this move could irritate the Madhesis further," he added.
Following NC's stance on tabling both bills together, parliament on Friday also failed to table the bill on reconstruction authority.
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