A meeting of the opposition parties held at the NC´s parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar on Monday morning concluded that national consensus is a must for any extension of the CA´s term. The meeting also decided to thwart any attempt by the government to endorse the bill by a two-thirds majority.[break]
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Chairman of Nepal Family Party Ek Nath Dhakal said the opposition parties have decided to stand against any extension of the CA term. "We have decided not to allow tabling of the bill for extending CA´s term unless there is consensus among all parties," he said.
The meeting called by the NC was attended by the top leaders of various 15 parties including Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), TMDP-Nepal, Sadbhawana Party, Dalit Janajati Party, Rastriya Janashakti Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), RPP-Nepal and Chure Bhawar Ekata Party. Besides independent lawmaker Sadrul Haq Miya, CPN-ML, which voted for the current government, also participated in the meeting.
The meeting, while upholding the 10-point demand put forth by the NC and the four-point demand forwarded by the United Democratic Madhesi Front, agreed that the Maoists must meet those demands to pave the way for extension of the CA´s term that is expiring on May 28.
TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur said the meeting decided not to support the extension of the CA unless there is concrete progress in the peace process and agreement on all contentious issues of new constitution. "We cannot support the extension of the CA´s term in status quo," he said.
MPRF-D Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar said the meeting concluded that the term of the CA should be extended on the basis of national consensus among all political parties. "Maoist should create credible grounds for the promulgation of new constitution by concluding the peace process," he said.
The meeting also concluded that the Khanal-led government formed on the basis of the controversial seven-point deal had only delayed the peace process and constitution drafting process. "Prime Minister Khanal has stood as an obstacle to national consensus government. Therefore, he should pave the way for formation of a national consensus government," Gachchhadar said.
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