Taskforce meeting inconclusive

KATHMANDU, Dec 1: The meeting of the taskforce formed to sort out contentious issues related to the new constitution could not reach any decision on Wednesday as top leaders of the major political parties failed to show up. The taskforce meeting, which was halted due to the Maoist plenum, was held after a hiatus of two weeks.



While CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal left for Johannesburg on Wednesday, top leaders of other parties did not attend the meeting citing busy schedule. [break]



“The top leaders could not attend the meeting as they were engaged in other important tasks,” said Maoist leader Dev Gurung who attended the meeting.



NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel, who took part in the meeting, left early stating he was busy doing necessary homework for the party´s central working committee meeting.



Likewise, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal also did not turn up in the meeting as he remained busy making preparations for his party´s central committee meeting slated for Thursday.



Nepal Workers and People´s Party (NWAP) Chairman Narayanman Bijukchhe was, however, present at the meeting. Similarly, Agni Kharel from CPN-UML, Ramesh Lekhak from NC, Dev Gurung from UCPN (Maoist), Ratneshwor Lal Karna from Madhesi People´s Rights Forum Nepal (MPRF-N) and Sunil Prajapati from NWAPP attended the meeting.



The leaders discussed the reports submitted by the committee on fundamental rights and directive principles of the state, but could not reach any conclusion as the parties differed over whether the new constitution should adopt the provision of compulsory military training for those above 18 years.



“It will militarize the country. We should instead give the youths vocational trainings,” said NC leader Ramesh Lekhak after the meeting. “It is not logical to make military training compulsory for youths in the 21st century.”



However, the Maoists argued that the constitution should have the provision of compulsory military training to all youths so that they can be deployed during times of crisis. “It is an issue linked to our national independence. So we must go for it,” argued Maoist leader Gurung.



The seven-member taskforce comprises Dahal, Nepali Congress (NC) parliamentary party leader Paudel, CPN-UML Chairman Khanal, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) Chairman Upendra Yadav, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWAP) Chairman Bijukchhe, Minister for Law Prem Bahadur Singh and CA member Rukmini Chaudhary.

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