While NC and CPN-UML leaders said it would be "meaningless” to hold talks with the ruling UCPN (Maoist), officials at the prime minister´s office said the opposition leaders were pushing the country toward confrontation. Officials at Baluwatar said the prime minister is in the mood to forward the budget ordinance irrespective of the opposition´s resistance.[break]
NC Spokesman Dilendra Prasad Badu said NC will take part in the negotiations only if the talks would focus on all contentious political issues, including the formation of a new national consensus government. “The meeting to discuss budget only would be nothing more than a meaningless gathering of leaders,” he said.
Badu also accused the ruling parties of not being serious about resolving the deadlock as the meeting was called to discuss budget only. “We will take part in the negotiations only if discussions will be held on all contentious issues. The issues like budget falls under broader political issues,” he said.
CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal said they boycotted the talks as the meeting was not called to hold meaningful talks to resolve the problems.
"We are always open to holding meaningful dialogues but the Maoists invited us only for cheap popularity," Rawal told Republica. He said there was no point in holding talks as the ruling parties have already taken decisions on the issues, including the new budget.
"What is the point in holding talks when the ruling parties have already decided to bring the budget despite the opposition´s objection," said Rawal. "We boycotted the talks because we are not for endorsing their illegitimate proposals."
Rawal, however, said that the opposition is open to holding dialogues if the UCPN (Maoist) sincerely comes up with a genuine and convincing proposal for ending the political deadlock.
Officials at the prime minister´s office said the government has construed the opposition´s refusal to hold talks as their unwillingness to seek an amicable solution through dialogues but to invite confrontation. Prime Minister´s aides said the government would not backtrack from its commitment to bring the budget.
Prime Minister´s Political Advisor Devendra Paudel said the opposition´s refusal to sit for talks shows that they are headed for a confrontation. "The budget has already been prepared. The government will still make a last ditch effort tomorrow [Monday] but will nonetheless forward the budget if it fails to convince the opposition," Paudel told Republica.
NC leaders had informed UCPN (Maoist) leaders at around 5:30 pm that they were not attending the talks. The ruling coalition and the opposition alliance have been sharply divided over the issue of bringing the budget. While the ruling parties have argued that the budget shouldn´t be stopped at any cost, the opposition parties earlier this week requested the president in writing not to endorse the budget brought without consensus.
The opposition parties have been arguing that the present government has already lost its constitutional as well as political legitimacy. Fifteen opposition parties have already announced month-long protests aimed at ousting the UCPN (Maoist)-led government and forming a consensus government to hold fresh election in April-May next year.
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