PM to address NC demands at House Wednesday

PM asks home minister to work out on how cases against TMDP leaders can be withdrawn

PM asks UML leaders to fix name of its representative in high-level mechanism

Ruling parties agree to give complete shape to some commissions

All-party consensus sought for the commissions that are part of the peace process

KATHMANDU, April 14: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday told ruling party leaders that he would address the issues raised by all the political parties in the parliament including Nepali Congress and ensure smooth running of the House.[break]

At a meeting of top leaders of five ruling parties held at his official residence in Baluwatar, Dahal said he has already struck a deal with CPN-UML and is near consensus with the main opposition, Nepali Congress.

“I will hold meeting with Nepali Congress leaders today [Tuesday] and discuss how their demands can be addresses,” ruling Sadbhawana Party’s Co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna quoted the prime minister as saying at the meeting.

The meeting, however, could not take place, according to Nepali Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat. “We will meet tomorrow [Wednesday] as we had other engagements for today.”

According to Karna, the prime minister asked Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam to carry out homework on how the cases against Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party cadres can be withdrawn, a major demands raised by TMDP. “I have to give them [TMDP leaders] a convincing reply by tomorrow [Wednesday],” said Karna quoting the prime minister.

The prime minister at the meeting had sought suggestions from the ruling party leaders whether the option of knocking at the Supreme Court door would be appropriate way to get the term “major political parties” mentioned in the constitution interpreted. TMDP has been demanding re-interpretation of the term since the government formed Special Committee for Integration of Maoist Combatants comprising three ruling parties and the main opposition, Nepali Congress.

But some of the ruling parties argued that going to the court would not be a good way for the government to deal with the issue. “We suggested that the government better interpret the term after due consultation with other parties,” said Karna. “If any political party is not satisfied then the issue can be taken to the court.”

The meeting of the ruling alliance top leaders also decided to distinguish the commissions and committees the government has to form immediately into two types.

The prime minister asked the coalition leaders to suggest names by Wednesday so that the government could form the commissions. The commissions to be formed are on Land Reforms, Landless Squatters and Freed Kamaiya.

Ruling parties suggested to the government that consensus among all parties would be necessary for forming commissions on Truth and Reconciliation, Disappearance, State Restructuring and Inclusion.

“Since these commissions are part of the peace process and not part of the government’s administrative functions, most of the coalition partners asked the prime minister to work for building consensus with other parties as well,” said Karna.

The ruling parties also agreed at the meeting to activate the high-level political mechanism of the ruling parties to facilitate government functions. The prime minister asked the CPN-UML leaders to finalize name of its representatives in the mechanism. He also asked other parties to replace their representatives in the committee if they wanted to.

According to a participant, the high-level political committee will set up its office at Singha Durbar so that it could work in a systematic manner once it is given full shape.