KATHMANDU, Aug 4: An all-party meeting held at the call of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to address the demands of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Tuesday ended inconclusively as the ruling parties and the Maoists remained adamant over their respective stances. [break]
The four-hour long meeting held at the International Convention Center (ICC) in New Baneshwar failed to arrive at consensus as the Maoists insisted that the resolution motion they filed earlier against President Dr Ram Baran Yadav´s move reinstating army chief Rookmangud Katawal be discussed at the parliament.
All other parties attending the meeting, however, had argued that the issue cannot be discussed at the parliament as the president did not act on his own, but at the request of 19 political parties. They also argued that the speaker has already rejected discussion on the motion.
At the meeting, 19 of the total 24 political parties represented in the CA were present. The two factions of the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum were absent at the meeting.
The all-party meeting comes two days before the one-month ultimatum given by the Maoists expires. The Maoist on Monday announced a series of protest programs starting August 7 if the ruling parties failed to address the Maoist demands.
Among others, Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had agreed in June to take initiative to address the Maoist demand for ´civilian supremacy´ in consultation with other political parties within one month.
President Yadav had blocked the unilateral decision of the erstwhile Maoist-led government to sack army chief Katawal on May 3. The then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had stepped down from the government on May 4, terming the president´s move as ´unconstitutional´.
The Maoists then staged street protests and also obstructed parliamentary business before inking the four-point deal a month ago.
Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Nepali Congress Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel said there was no consensus due to Maoists´ rigid stance. The issue of president´s move no more holds relevance as the speaker has already rejected the resolution, he said.
Poudel said they suggested amending constitution if there is any confusion relating to the powers of the president and asked the Maoists to withdraw their protests.
Maoist Deputy Parliamentary Party leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha alleged that other parties had taken the issues lightly. "We have taken this seriously," he said.
Shrestha said there is a slim possibility to come into agreement as other political parties are still terming the president´s move as ´constitutional´. "We have asked all political parties to make uniform stance about the presidential move reinstating the army chief," he said. "The move should be discussed at the parliament."
He also warned that his party would launch street protests as planned if the ruling parties failed to address the demand for civil supremacy.
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