The leaders, however, expressed confidence that they would be able to create credible grounds for conclusion of the peace process if all the parties work sincerely in the remaining period. [break]
At a meeting of Five-point Agreement Parliamentary Special Monitoring Committee held at the call of Speaker Subas Nembang, the top leaders of UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML also expressed commitment to make maximum utilization of the remaining CA term to conclude both the constitution drafting and peace process.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said, “Though we can not conclude the constitution writing and peace process in the remaining time we can prepare grounds to make people believe that both the tasks can be accomplished.”
He admitted that the internal disputes within his own party had stalled the peace process over the past one month. “I am highly encouraged by the recent central committee decision. This has given me confidence that we can expedite both the tasks,” he further said.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal said that they had failed to expedite the peace process as they are yet to agree on modality, norms, number, rank determination and package meant for the Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement.
The prime minister, who also heads the Special Committee, said that four survey teams are already in a standby position and that they can accomplish the tasks in 53 days once there is an agreement at political level on these issues.
During the meeting, NC leaders had asked Prime Minister Khanal and Maoist Chairman Dahal whether the former would tender his resignation as agreed in the five-point deal.
On the occasion, Maoist Chairman Dahal said that it is up to the prime minister to decide when he should step down. “Our party believes that it would be appropriate for the prime minister to resign only after parties agree on a new prime ministerial candidate. But this is not our position as such. It is up to the prime minister to decide,” NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi quoted Dahal as saying.
Prime Minister Khanal had reiterated that he was committed to the implementing the five-point deal. “I am ready to resign for the cause of consensus government. I will immediately resign once the parties prepare grounds for national consensus,” Nidhi quoted the prime minister as saying.
On the occasion, NC President Sushil Koirala had asked Maoist Chairman Dahal to expedite the peace process. Koirala assured Dahal that he would propose him as new prime minister once the constitution drafting and peace process is concluded.
This is the fifth meeting of the committee. Earlier, the committee has already held separate meetings with Prime Minister Khanal , Defense Minister Bisnu Paudel, Special Committee coordinator Balananda Sharma and its member secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire to review the progress made in the implementation of the five-point deal.
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