The NC took such a decision as the secretariat proposal seeks to bring the new statute before completion of the fundamental tasks of the peace process, something that contradicts the decision of the party´s´ central working committee.[break]
Top leaders of the major political parties, including the NC, on Thursday had okayed the CC secretariat´s proposal to bring an integrated draft of the new constitution nine days before the proposed plan of the Special Committee to detach Maoists combatants from their arms.
Earlier on June 7, the Special Committee meeting had floated a plan for the handover of Maoist arms to the government and integration of certain number of combatants in various security agencies by August 27.
NC Vice president and the party´s parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel said his party still maintains its stance that the peace process must be completed before the new statute. "The proposal was approved due to lack of coordination," he said.
Paudel said the Maoists had earlier agreed to complete the fundamental tasks of the peace process by mid-July. "The proposal of the secretariat is yet to reach to the Constitutional Committee for endorsement. We will seek revision in the proposal there," he added.
Paudel´s remarks comes at a time when party leaders have been criticizing top leadership for agreeing to bring an integrated draft of the constitution before concluding the fundamental tasks of the peace process.
"NC maintains that the new statute cannot be drafted before peace process concludes. The agreement does not even try to take constitution drafting and peace process side by side, let alone conclude the peace process before the new statute," said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi.
Meanwhile, NC CWC member and Special Committee member Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said that the chances of bringing draft statute by August 18 were slim as the Maoists are yet to return the former combatants -- deployed for the security of party leaders -- and their arms to the cantonments.
"I have heard that only 65 to 66 weapons have reached Shaktikhor cantonment. Not all weapons have reached there," he told media persons at Bharatpur Airport, Friday afternoon.
NC district presidents´ gathering Saturday
A national gathering of the Nepali Congress (NC) district working committee (DWC) presidents is beginning on Saturday at a resort in Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk. The two-day gathering to be participated by 75 DWC presidents and the party´s CWC members is set to chart out the party´s future course of action.
According to Dhading DWC President Ram Nath Adhikari, all 75 DWC presidents have already gathered in Kathmandu. He said the DWC presidents plan to leave for Dhulikhel at 7:30 am Saturday from NC headquarters in Sanepa.
The national gathering is scheduled to assess the party´s organizational base across the country and also hold discussions about the changed political context following the May 29 five-point deal. The gathering will amend the party´s statute to give more powers to the DWC presidents.
Related story
ICC T20 World Cup: England set Nepal a challenging 185-run targ...
