Thimphu: With the peace process in Nepal
precariously poised, its Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala on Monday apprised External Affairs Minister SM Krishna about the
latest developments and underlined that India was supporting
the efforts to take the process to its logical end.
Krishna and Koirala, who is also the Foreign Minister,
had about 30-minute meeting on the margins of the SAARC Summit
here during which they discussed issues related to drafting of
the new Constitution in Nepal, a process which is to be
concluded by May 28 but looks difficult to be achieved.
"We had discussions on issues related to the peace
process, writing of Constitution. Whatever is happening
currently. I briefed him on the picture," Koirala told PTI
after the meeting.
To a question, she said, "the situation is not very
good in Nepal."
Asked about Krishna's views on the situation in
response to her briefing, she said, he is "very concerned and
helpful and very positive."
She rejected the allegations of Maoist leader
Prachanda that India was not playing a positive role in the
peace process. "I don't think so...If Nepal is destabilised,
India will also be affected. I think India wants to help and
support the peace process."
As per the agreement between mainstream parties and
Maoists in 2006, the new Nepal Constitution is to be written
by May 28. However, the parties continue to be divided, making
very difficult the possibility of new Constitution being
drafted within the prescribed time.
Asked about the possibility of the Constitution being
written by May 28, Koirala said, "it does not look like. I
don't know what will really happen. We still have to decide,
all parties. Right now we are in discussions whether to
continue Parliament or to have other arrangements."
She said her Nepal Congress party feels that there
should be a national consensus government which will include
Maoists.
"We should solve the problem through dialogue...
Maoists are the single largest party in Parliament and we need
their support to write the Constitution. We need them inside
the government. So we will try to bring them in the
government. Without them how will you write the Constitution,"
she said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, April 26, 2010, 17:53