The parliament obstruction was expected to end Sunday following an address by the prime minister in the House but the talks faltered after NC leaders demanded that the prime minister either make a concrete commitment for concluding the peace process or step down.[break]
"We couldn´t reach agreement today (Sunday) upon learning that the prime minister was making a vague commitment without categorically specifying the tasks he would complete by August 13," NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel told reporters outside the parliament hall at New Baneshwar.
Paudel said that the NC will not stop House obstruction until clear commitment comes from the prime minister.
The NC leaders insisted that the government should be able to settle the five major issues related to army integration -- integration numbers, modality, standard norms for integration, rank harmonization and the rehabilitation package -- before August 13 or else Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal should step down on that day.
Though the prime minister has made it clear in public that he would quit if he fails to make tangible progress in the peace process by August 13, the NC leaders demanded that he should make such a commitment in parliament itself.
"Although the prime minister recently made his commitment public through a press conference we want him to appear before the house and make the commitment," NC Chief Whip Laxman Ghimire told Republica while addressing the parliament before obstructing the meeting. "We have felt that the prime minister has disregarded the parliament as he hasn´t addressed the House even though we have been continuously obstructing the proceedings since July 23 to press him to implement the five-point agreement."
Minister Ghanshyam Bhusal, on behalf of the government, remained busy in talks with NC leaders as the prime minister couldn´t join the talks citing poor health.
Finally, the leaders from both the sides agreed that the prime minister´s side would come up with a more concrete commitment on ending the peace process or else he should to step down.
Leaders privy to talks are optimistic about House resumption Monday if the prime minister becomes able to convince the NC.
The NC leaders also clarified that if the prime minister cannot appear before the House to read out his commitment due to health grounds, the deputy prime minister or someone else can read out on the prime minister´s behalf.
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