The Maoist party has been disrupting the House to protest what they call the extra-constitution move of President Ram Baran Yadav to reinstate Chief of Army Staff Rookmnagud Katawal in his office on May 3, despite the Maoist-led government´s decision to sack him.
The meeting on Friday could not make headway after the two parties differed on the words to be mentioned in the proposed speech of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in the parliament.
The Maoists demanded that the prime minister “president” and “Chief of Army Staff” and address the issues raised by their party within a month to pave the way for House resumption.
“We have been disrupting the house for so long. The government should at least do something to address our demands,” said Maoist leader Narayankaji Shrestha, adding the prime minister must mention those words in the speech.
But the UML leaders say mentioning of these words would irk the Nepali Congress, and may even unravel the new coalition. “The PM is ready to state that the government will address the Maoist demands after consulting with other political parties , but the Nepali Congress will seriously object to the mentioning of these words in his speech,” said UML chief whip Bhim Acharya, after the talks with the Maoist leaders.
He said the UML would hold further talks with the Maoists and the NC on Saturday on the issue.
Talking to myrepublica.com, NC chief whip Laxman Ghimire said his party will not at any cost accept the mentioning of those words in the PM´s speech. “The new government was formed on the ground of these issues. So it is simply impossible,” he said.
He said his party will not have any objection if the PM in his address makes commitment to address Maoist demands without mentioning “president and army chief”. The winter session of the legislature-parliament generally lasts for one to one-and-half months, but the ongoing session has continued for nearly three months, perhaps the longest in the country´s history, thanks to continued disruptions by the major political parties turn by turn. The disruption has not only affected normal House business, but also its prorogation, affecting the date for the budget session that normally starts by the beginning of July.
Presenting the government´s programs and policies as well as the budget for the new fiscal year will be seriously affected if the winter session is not prorogued immediately, and the budget session summoned.
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