The prime minister gave such assurance to UML leaders at a two-party meeting held in Singha Durbar on Friday.[break]
“I have taken it very seriously and we will be in a position to tell you something in this connection by tomorrow (Saturday),” UML leader Bhim Rawal, who was present at the meeting, quoted the prime minister as saying.
Major opposition Nepali Congress (NC) and UML and lawmakers from other small parties obstructed the parliament proceedings on Thursday demanding dismissal of the two ministers. They warned of disrupting the House meetings until the two ministers are sacked.
The opposition parties have been demanding dismissal of Bhandari for his remarks that people from 22 Tarai districts may declare secession and that no constitution or law can stop them from doing so, and Sah for his alleged involvement in the murder of Hindu Yuwa Sangh leader Kashinath Tiwari in Birgunj last year.
Asked what action the prime minister would take against the ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Narayankaji Shrestha said the prime minister “would address the issue positively”.
UML leaders enquired about the deals the prime minister would strike during his India visit. “We asked about the power trade agreement that he is reportedly going to sign during the visit. He said he would consult UML leaders before leaving for India,” Rawal told Republica.
Shrestha, who is also a foreign minister, said the UML leaders enquired about the issues to be raised during the visit. “We clarified them that the agenda items for the visit are still under discussion,” Shrestha said.
However, a UML leader, who was present at the two-party talks, said they expressed concerns over India´s desire to incorporate some of the provisions, which are objectionable to the Nepali side, in the power-trading deals. “Some provisions proposed by the Indians are very serious and we warned them against accepting such a provision,” the leader said preferring anonymity.
On the peace process, the UML leaders insisted that the prime minister come up with a concrete proposal on integration and rehabilitation.
“First of all, you need to come up with a concrete proposal on concluding the peace process. We can then start agenda-wise talks,” a leader quoted UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel as telling the prime minister. The prime minister then told the UML team that he would take serious initiatives once Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal returns from Chitwan Saturday.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam, General Secretary Pokharel, KP Sharma Oli and Rawal from the UML and the prime minister, DPM Shrestha and general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa from the Maoist party were present during the two-party talks.
Maoists, NC holding back channel talks
UCPN (Maoist) and Nepali Congress leaders have been discussing the peace process through backchannels these days but they have yet to reach consensus on contentious issues, said a leader involved in the discussions.
The leader said that the two parties are expecting results by Wednesday.
Meanwhile, another NC leader told Republica that NC is likely to call its central committee meeting next week to change its earlier position on the peace process, especially on the issue of the number of combatants, if consensus among political appeared likely.
Earlier, NC was for integration of only 4,000 Maoist combatants.
The leaders of the two parties had met early last week. The leaders were supposed to meet second time last week but did not.
NC leaders said the three major parties are likely to meet after Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal returns from Chitwan on Saturday evening.
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