An informal meeting of the NC Central Working Committee (CWC) members held at the party´s headquarters in Sanepa on Saturday concluded that the government has not been sincere toward implementation of the five-point deal. [break]
The meeting also expressed strong resentment against the government´s move to recall ambassadors and make key appointments in various constitutional bodies. They maintained that the government has only caretaker status as Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has already agreed to step down to pave way for the formation of a national consensus government.
Talking to Republica, NC CWC member NP Saud said the party has decided to allow the government to only table the budget in parliament. “There has been no agreement with NC on the content of the new budget. We will play the role of opposition in parliament,” he said.
CWC members had questioned the party leadership if the ruling party leaders had already struck an agreement with NC on the new budget as claimed by the former. The CWC members had suggested to the party leadership to chalk out the party´s strategy keeping in view the situation after the tabling of the budget in parliament.
During a parliamentary party meeting held earlier in the day, NC PP meeting had asked the government to incorporate all the suggestions made by NC lawmakers in parliament on the new budget. The PP meeting had also warned that the party would not support passage of the budget the government did not incorporate suggestions from NC lawmakers.
Among other things, the NC asked the government to give continuity to the program such as Garibsanga Bishweshwor, Mahila Jagriti, Yuwa Swarojgar program introduced by NC-led government in the past. It also criticized the government´s principles and priorities of the new budget arguing that it neither sets any priorities nor is based on any principles.
Sitaula, Sujata deny involvement in Sudan scam
Speaking during the informal CWC meeting, Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that though the contract was awarded by the Police Welfare Trust for Armored Personnel Careers (APCs) during his tenure as the home minister he did not have any involvement in the APCs procurement process.
“Police welfare fund has its own rules and regulations. All the works related to the contract were done by the police. I even did not know about the process,” a CWC member quoted Sitaula as saying.
He argued that concerned police officials should have stalled payment if the APCs were delivered were not in good condition. “The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority would have naturally filed case against me had I been involved in the case,” Sitaula said.
He complained that media reports had treated him unfairly without knowing the facts. He added that there were a series of negative reports in the media about him after he remained firm in the NC CWC´s stance on peace process during three-party negotiations before the extension of the CA term.
CWC members including Chandra Bhandari, Manmohan Bhattarai, Ram Kumar Chaudhary had asked Sitaula to clarify the media reports on his alleged involvement in the Sudan scam.
Another CWC member Sujata Koirala also denied media reports about her alleged involvement in the Sudan scam.
NC leaders demand party´s strong presence in parliament
Both CWC and PP members of NC have expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the party to present itself strongly in parliament.
According to Ajaya Chaurasiya, who is both PP and CWC member, NC leaders have demanded a strong presence of the party in parliament. They also complained that the party had left many issues, including fake VAT bills, in parliament halfway.
The NC leaders also expressed the party´s failure to take its stance on the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, which was passed on Friday without reservations.
NC to organize district and village level programs
The CWC meeting also decided to take the party´s central level programs to district and village levels, according to CWC member Chaurasiya. A gathering of the party´s district presidents held recently in Kavrepalanchowk had demanded that the party´s leadership unveil new programs for the village level so as to consolidate the party´s organizational base.
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