KATHMANDU, Nov 18: The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML and the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) have stepped up parleys in a bid to end the protracted political deadlock. The parties on Wednesday also decided to work on the wording of the proposed joint resolution. [break]
“The joint task force will work on the wording of the joint resolution motion and a meeting of the top party leaders to be held in the Thursday afternoon will deliberate on it,” said Maoist vice chair Narayankaji Shrestha after a meeting which took place at the office of the prime minister and council of ministers on Wednesday.
“I don´t think any agreement will be reached upon by tomorrow; the talks may extend till day after tomorrow,” Shrestha said. He also said his party may also extend the Nov 20 ultimatum till NC president Girija Prasad Koirala returns home from Singapore on Sunday if the talks moved in positive direction. Earlier, the Maoists had threatened to launch third phase of protests, if their demand concerning "civilian supremacy" was not met by Nov 20.
As per the agreement reached on Wednesday, the taskforce, comprising Maoist leader Dev Gurung, NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC and UML leader Yuvaraj Gyawali, will hold a meeting on Thursday morning to give final touches to the joint resolution.
Earlier, the Maoists had pulled out of the taskforce saying that the team did not specifically mention “the extra-constitutional move” of the president, and instead proposed to end the deadlock through an agreement “in a package” that includes the formation of a national unity government led by the Maoists.
In his meeting with NC President Girija Prasad Koirala in Singapore, Maoist Chairman Dahal has agreed not to make any direct allegations against the president, and adopt a middle path instead. “I also don´t want to make accusations against the president,” Dr Shekhar Koirala, who was a privy to the meeting between the two leaders, quoted Dahal as saying.
Leaders in Kathmandu say chances of reaching an agreement on the Maoist demand will depend on what the two top leaders cooked in Singapore. “Maoists look positive now, but the chances of reaching an agreement depends on what was cooked up in Singapore,” said UML chief whip Bhim Acharya.
According to him, the meeting will deliberate on the joint resolution motion, but the leaders would entertain the Maoists´ resolution motion only if the latter can moderate it. “We may agree if the Maoists moderate their resolution draft or prepare another in the form of call attention motion,” he said.
´Unnatural´ coalition to collapse: Dahal
A day after his secretive meeting with Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala in Singapore, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Wednesday that the current “unnatural coalition government” would collapse soon, paving the way for a new coalition.
“My confidence that the current unnatural coalition will collapse has been bolstered, paving the way for a new coalition,” the Maoist chairman told reporters upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Wednesday afternoon after wrapping up his three-day visit to the city state.
"We want that the deadlock should end by Nov 20 as far as possible."
He told reporters that the “unholy political game” that brought about the fall of then Maoist-led government would come to an end soon.
According to him, the two leaders agreed to adopt a middle path to end the impasse. Dahal said Koirala was of the opinion that the proposed joint resolution motion should “convey some sense” of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav´s move to reinstate then army chief Rookmangud Katawal, but the NC leader was against making any accusation against the president.
Dahal said he saw confidence in the face of the octogenarian NC leader after the talks, and his own confidence had been boosted also. “We want that the deadlock should end by Nov 20 as far as possible,” he said.
Dahal told reporters that his party would step up parleys with the ruling parties to end the deadlock within the Maoist deadline.
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