Maoists must commit not to repeat Nov 19: Speaker

KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang, who has been facing widespread public criticism for not initiating action against UCPN (Maoist) lawmakers involved in manhandling and vandalism in parliament, has demanded that the Maoists publicly commit themselves not to repeat the November 19 incident.

The Speaker said he shared this view with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, whom he met at the latter´s official residence, Shital Niwas, on Wednesday evening. [break]

"The UCPN Maoist and other parties should realize that the November 19 incident was the most grievous. The Maoists must publicly commit themselves not to repeat such an incident in future," Nembang told Republica when asked about his briefing of the President.

This is the first meeting between the President and the Speaker after Friday´s incident in which Maoist lawmakers manhandled ministers and vandalized furniture and mikes in parliament as the government tried to present this year´s budget.

According to Nembang, President Yadav inquired with him about what had happened in parliament before the government recommended to him to prorogue the session.

He told the President that something untoward would have happened if he had not put off parliamentary business immediately after Maoist lawmakers started attacking Finance Minister Surendra Pandey and Minister for Energy Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat.

Nembang further said he told the President that the political parties must forge consensus at the earliest besides agreeing on summoning the next session of parliament as soon as possible.

The President shared his views in these regards. The Speaker also said to the President that the budget introduced through ordinance should be endorsed by parliament.

Parties should forge consensus to call next session of parliament at earliest

Budget should be endorsed by parliament

Issue of Paudel´s candidacy would be resolved if parties agree on calling the next session

The President and the Speaker also discussed the fate of Ram Chandra Poudel´s prime ministerial candidacy following the session prorogue.

"I shared my view with him that if the political parties agree to call the next session of parliament and if parliamentary business starts, the issue of Paudel´s candidacy will be resolved at the earliest," Nembang said.

Asked how this issue will be resolved, the Speaker refused to go into details but said, "I assured the President that the issue of Paudel´s candidacy will undoubtedly be resolved if the parties agree on calling parliament´s next session through consensus."