“The discussions underway in our party wouldn´t affect the peace process,” prime minister´s press advisor Surya Thapa quoted Dahal as saying during his meeting with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal at the latter´s official residence in Baluwatar. [break]
Dahal´s assurance has come at a time when people are frustrated over the parties´ failure to give momentum to the peace process even a month after they reached the five-point deal.
Other parties have claimed that the peace process has been obstructed mainly due to intra-party disputes within UCPN (Maoist).
According to Thapa, the prime minister reminded Dahal that being a party to the peace process the Maoists had a greater responsibility in taking the peace process to a logical end and urged Dahal to help expedite the tasks.
The leaders also took stock of major political issues but did not take any decision. “Though they discussed major issues including the peace process, constitution making and implementation of the five-point deal, the meeting only reviewed the political situation,” Thapa said.
The leaders also agreed to hold further consultations with other parties including the main opposition Nepali Congress so as to ensure that the new budget will not be obstructed.
Though top leaders from the major three political parties -- UCPN (Maoist), the NC and the CPN-UML -- while inking the five-point deal on May 28 committed to prepare the integrated draft of the new constitution and accomplish the basic tasks of the peace process within a period of three months, there has been no significant progress over the last one month.
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