The three largest political parties held several rounds of talks to end the months-long House obstruction by Maoist lawmakers, but could not arrive at any agreement. The political parties agreed to register a joint resolution in parliament, but they differed over content in the draft of the resolution.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting on Monday to end the deadlock, but there was no agreement. The prime minister´s meeting came after separate meetings of NC President Girija Prasad Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal with the Maoist chairman.
The Maoists rejected the draft of the resolution prepared by the NC and UML, saying it conveyed the sense that the Maoist-led government had committed a mistake in deciding to sack the then army chief and the president had to reinstate him to correct that decision. The draft of the resolution prepared by the NC and UML mentioned the president´s move as background, but the Maoists have demanded that it be mentioned in the resolution proper. “We have prepared a separate draft and we shall discuss it with the NC and UML,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, speaking at a function in Kathmandu, Tuesday.
He said the possibility of reaching consensus has risen as the other political parties have become serious about resolving the deadlock. “They have now been pushed into a defensive position. I think there will be an agreement soon,” he said. The Maoist chairman also disclosed that his party is holding talks with the others to find consensus in a “package”, which, according to him, meant a Maoist-led national unity government, civilian supremacy, constitution writing, and an agreement on integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist army. He warned that the Maoists will unleash a mass movement "typhoon" after the Tihar festival if a consensus is not reached.
Except for a few days when the Maoists allowed parliament to meet for the budget presentation, the legislature has not met ever since President Dr Ram Baran Yadav reinstated former army chief Rookmangud Katawal following the Maoist-led government´s decision in May to sack him. The government´s annual budget has not yet been passed due to the obstruction.
NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel blamed the Maoists for the deadlock. “The proposed draft of the joint resolution incorporates all the issues raised in order to give the Maoists an honorable exit,” said Poudel. “The Maoists, it appears, are bent on reaching power on the pretext of civilian supremacy.”
Poudel argued that since the president took action as per a request of 18 political parties to safeguard the constitutional provision the Maoists should eventually come to realize the ´unconstitutionality´ of their act in dismissing the army chief if the current deadlock is to end. “We would not have asked the president to revoke the decision had the Maoists taken it after taking all the coalition partners into confidence,” he added.
What if budget not passed by House
The government plans to introduce the budget through an ordinance if the Maoists continue the House obstruction, an aide to the prime minister said. “The government should look for an alternative if the budget is not passed by mid-October,” said the aide. He said the government will introduce the ordinance in consensus with the ruling 22 parties. Parliament has only passed a vote on account bill that allows the government to spend one-third of the budget amount.
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