Kathmandu: Hectic consultations were held
between top leaders in Nepal on Saturday as they discussed a way out
to end the political crisis, including a parliamentary
resolution, ahead of a three-day general strike called by the
Maoists.
Ruling partner CPN-UML president Jhalanath Khanal met
Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala on Saturday to find
a way out as the political crisis deepened with the Maoists
intensifying their agitation.
The meeting held at Koirala's residence at Maharajgunj
this morning dwelt on possible ways to resolve the
longstanding political crisis through a middle path to address
the Maoists' demand for rectifying President Ram Baran Yadav's
move to reinstate the then army chief Rukmangad Katawal.
They also discussed finalising a common resolution motion
to be presented in the Parliament to address the Maoists'
demand of maintaining "civilian supremacy" and rectifying the
president's move.
The two leaders agreed to jointly call the Maoists to
withdraw their 3-day general strike starting tomorrow, and to
continue efforts to bring about consensus on key political
issues to complete the peace process and draft the
constitution on time, Nepali Congress sources said.
After meeting Koirala in the morning, Khanal also held
discussion with Maoist chief Prachanda later in the afternoon
to hammer out solution to the problem.
The top leaders of three political parties UCPN-Maoist,
Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are also likely to hold joint
meeting in the evening to sort out differences and to find a
way out from the current political stalemate.
The Maoists have been protesting the President's move to
reinstate the Army chief, who was dismissed by the then
Prachanda-led government. They have said the President's move
amounted to violation of civilian supremacy.
NC chief Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda met at the
former's residence yesterday and agreed to find a solution on
the basis of consensus and to forge cooperation and
collaboration for completing the peace process and drafting
the new constitution within the stipulated time frame of May
end 2010.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 18:07