The president expressed such views during his meeting with Maoist vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha at the president´s official residence at Sital Niwas on Monday evening. “The political parties should reach an agreement and I am ready to help on my part,” the president´s press advisor Rajendra Shrestha quoted Dahal as telling Shrestha during the talks.
During the meeting the president and the Maoist leader also dwelled on the army chief issue and the current political deadlock. “The president primarily stressed the need for an agreement among the three major parties,” Shrestha told the myrepublica.
They also deliberated on the news reports by sections of the media that Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had agreed to ask for the resignation of the president during Sigapore talks. “The president said he did not buy such rumors. The Maoists are not for asking the resignation of the president,” Shrestha said.
The president also expressed concern that the Maoists´ decision to declare autonomous region unilaterally may invite confrontation and infringe upon the jurisdiction of the constituent assembly. The Maoist vice-chairman assured the president that the declaration of the autonomous provinces was just symbolic and publicity-orientated.
“We decided to declare the federal states in order to send positive messages about federalism and sensitize people as the anti-federalism elements are raising their heads,” Shrestha said.
This is the second meeting between the Maoists and the president after Maoist chairman Dahal´s secret meeting with NC president Girija Prasad Koirala in Singapore. During the Singapore meeting, Dahal and Koirala had agreed to adopt middle path to end the deadlock.
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