A meeting of top leaders from the UCPN (Maoist) and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) reached an agreement to this effect during a meeting held at the prime minister´s residence in Baluwatar on Monday morning, according to JP Gupta, minister for information and communications and chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Republican), a constituent party of the UDMF. [break]
“The comprehensive proposal will deal with all the issues of the peace process," Gupta told Republica.
This is the first time the ruling parties have held discussion on the peace process after the present coalition came to power in August.
Gupta said the government also plans to hold talks with the main opposition parties--Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML--at different levels during the Dashain holiday.
Meanwhile, both Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal assured the Madhesi parties that the intra-party rift within the UCPN (Maoist) would not affect the peace process.
“We have to take the peace process forward and there will be no obstruction from our party,” Gupta quoted the prime minister as saying during the meeting.
The meeting also reiterated the ruling parties´ commitment to implementing the four-point agreement, which is the basis of the present coalition, reached between the Maoists and the UDMF before the prime ministerial election on August 28.
“Both sides agreed that there is nothing amendable in the four-point agreement [as demanded by other parties and some Maoist leaders] and reiterated our commitment to fully implement the deal,” stated Gupta.
The meeting also discussed the ongoing protests against the agreement, which has been accused of being anti-nationalistic, and termed such protests as being well within "the opposition´s responsible role".
The two-hour meeting also evaluated the performance of the incumbent government and decided to ensure smooth delivery and monitoring of government services even during Dashain.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, who is also the chairman of MPRF-D, MPRF-R Chairman Gupta, Chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur and Health Minister and Chairman of Sadbhawana Party Rajendra Mahato attended the meeting. Minister for Irrigation and Chairman of TMDP-N Mahendra Yadav was absent at the meeting as he is out of the Valley.
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