The meeting attended by the representatives of 14 political parties that support the current government concluded that a Maoist-led government is not possible as long as the Maoist party does not dissociate itself with arms and combatants. [break]
The meeting that ended by issuing a five-point proposal decided to work toward forging consensus with all political parties to take the ongoing peace process to a logical end and promulgate new constitution.
The meeting took stock of the current political and security situation in the face of the Maoists taking to the streets.
While taking the Maoists decision to put off the indefinite general strike positively, the ruling parties asked the main opposition party to postpone all its protest programs to create an environment for consensus. The meeting urged the Maoists to present itself with due honesty to forging national consensus for peace, democracy and constitution drafting.
According to a press statement issued after the meeting, the ruling parties thanked all those who peacefully defied the Maoist general strike by showing an advanced level of democratic and civil awareness. They also thanked civil servants and security personnel for their efforts to maintain law and order during the strike.
Among other things, the meeting expressed sadness at the Maoist attack on those heading to a peace rally organized in Basantapur Friday morning.
Talking to media persons, Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa said the political problem facing the nation is still there even though the immediate problem created by the Maoist general strike has been resolved after the Maoist retreat. "Since the demand put forth by the Maoists is political, it should be dealt politically," he said.
Thapa added that both the ruling parties and the Maoists are equally responsible for accomplishing the tasks of concluding the peace process and promulgating new constitution. "There is nothing like give and take between the ruling parties and the opposition," he said.
NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, who attended the meeting, welcomed the Maoist decision to withdraw the strike. While asking the Maoists to come for negotiation, Deuba said the Maoist demand should be resolved through dialogues.
CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal asked the Maoists to come to the path of consensus. "The government should take the issues raised by the Maoists with due seriousness," he said. "The issues put forth by the Maoists should be discussed seriously to forge a consensus."
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