Other parties could not catch the spirit of consensus. They are not serious as we are.
Unified CPN (Maoist) chairman
We will not be able to release salaries of parliamentarians and Maoists combatants after mid-November, if the parliament fails to approve budget for running fiscal year soon.
The government is compelled to curtail expenses for headings that absorb huge chunk of expenditure like salaries and allowances for parliamentarians and Maoists combatants.
Impacts have already started emerging as the government could not clear salaries for a garrison of Nepal Army, which is mainly engaged in support activities for the army personnel, due to lack of adequate funds.
I have already informed Maoists leader and former finance minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai about the looming financial impacts of the lingering political deadlock.
Finance Minister
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India is protecting Nepal Army (NA). The Nepali Army does not have to worry about other countries [as long as they continue to get support from the Indian army]. So, India is a big problem in this regard. India never talks about impunity and holding the army accountable. India [Indian army] being the most important partner of NA, if they [Indian army] are not taking impunity in NA seriously, NA will not take the issue seriously. Until the Indian army pressurizes NA or at least stops protecting them, it is going to be very difficult to hold the Nepal Army accountable.
Asia Director, Human Rights Watch
Relations of NC leaders with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal have gone sour after his decision to promote Sujata Koirala to deputy prime minister. NC leaders have been dissatisfied with the prime minister after he chose to promote Sujata against the suggestion of most NC central leaders.
An abrupt decision on the part of the prime minister was not appropriate as NC leaders were holding meeting with the party president to resolve the issue of party´s leadership in the coalition government.
There is a limitation to stage protest in the parliament. It must be symbolic. The Maoists have no right to paralyze the country by obstructing the parliament indefinitely.
Nepali Congress Vice President
The endeavor for consensus in still on. But if we are not able to reach a common agreement, we have agreed to go ahead with the people’s movement. The consensus has not been able to reach due to counter-arguments inside the parties who are in the government. So, if the consensus is not reached, the bottomline will be set for an andolan (movement).
Maoist Spokesman
I requested the Prime Minister to abide by Comprehensive Peace Accord. It’s a dual responsibility of both the Maoists and the government to abide completely by the peace agreement. No one should give any such statement that would put the pace process into jeopardy.
UNMIN Chief
When does wisdom kick in?