"I am still urging the parties to come up with a consensus. I will not prove lacking on my part should the parties eventually fail to reach any consensus. I will give a way out to the country in my capacity as head of state," said President Yadav, hinting at his dissatisfaction over the moves of the parties to prolong the transition period in the country. [break]
Talking briefly to media persons after a visit to local Radha Krishna Temple, President Yadav said the political parties cannot just do as they please in the name of seeking consensus, thinking I am feckless. "Though the Constituent Assembly failed to promulgate a new statute, the former Maoist combatants and their weapons are now under the control of the state. As head of state, I must thank the parties for that," he said.
CARTOON BY RAJESH KC
"But since the people want a constitution, I once again urge the parties to devote themselves to that, setting aside their personal and partisan interests," he further said.
President Yadav, who arrived in Janakpur on personal business, said the current government had taken the wrong step in dissolving the CA without effecting necessary amendments in the Interim Constitution. He argued that since the alliance of the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties alone would not be able to provide a way out, there was no alternative to bringing the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML as well on board.
President Yadav alleged that the UCPN (Maoist), NC, UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front were chiefly to blame for the failure to promulgate a new statute. "I respect the Interim Constitution as the holy Geeta. That is why I have been repeatedly asking the parties to give the country a way out through consensus, in the spirit of the Interim Constitution," he further said.
Arguing that the government was solely to blame for its failure to bring a full-fledged budget, President Yadav reiterated that there was no alternative to consensus. "Political parties are the representatives of the people. So, I have been repeatedly asking them to forge consensus among themselves for forming a new government, bringing a full budget and holding fresh CA elections," he added.
Prez invites all-party meeting on Friday
Disappointed over the failure of political parties to reach consensus by their self-declared deadline of mid-October, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has invited all 33 parties represented in the erstwhile CA to a meeting on Friday morning. "This is an attempt by the president to once again ask the parties to reach consensus," said the president´s press advisor, Rajendra Dahal.
Asked if the president will give the parties a deadline for reaching consensus, Dahal said the president will once again remind the parties to forge consensus at the earliest. "The president is worried over the failure of the parties to reach consensus," he added.
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