Don't give up consensus efforts: Prez to parties

KATHMANDU, May 10: President Ram Baran Yadav has expressed his concern over the decision of the political parties to resolve the thorny issues of constitution writing through voting.



On Thursday, the president called the top leaders of the major three parties and the United Democratic Madhesi Front and urged them not to stop efforts at consensus even if they have decided to resolve the issues through voting in the Constituent Assembly. [break]



"Though election is a democratic process, I urge you not to give up the path of political consensus to institutionalize the achievements of the people´s movement," Rajendra Dahal quoted the president as saying to the top leaders.



According to a source at the President´s Office, the president decided to meet the top leaders of the major political parties at around 10 pm Wednesday night upon learning that the parties decided to hold voting on the contentious issues of constitution making.



UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Coordinator of the United Democratic Madhesi Front Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar were invited to the meeting.



"Political understanding is necessary to maintain national unity and social goodwill," Dahal quoted the president as telling the top leaders.



The president also urged the leaders to move forward quickly to resolve the contentious issues in view of the fast approaching May 28 deadline. He was of the view that the Interim Constitution also stressed politics of consensus and asked the leaders to work in line with the spirit of the constitution.



"I urge you to work in the best interest of the country," the president told the top leaders during the 10-minute meeting, according to the source.

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