Kathmandu: With just a day left for expiry of a deadline set by him for forming a national consensus government, Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav on Saturday voiced concern over slow progress in efforts made by major parties in
this regard as well as in the Constitution-drafting process.
"The President asked the (caretaker) Prime Minister (Jhalanath Khanal) regarding the progress in the peace process, Constitution-making and government formation," his press adviser Rajendra Dahal said.
Khanal briefed the President regarding the current political situation and progress made so far in peace and Constitution-drafting processes, he said, adding Yadav was concerned over the slow progress.
His comments came as Nepali Congress held consultations
with the representatives from 10 fringe parties, including
Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Janashakti Party and
CPN-Marxist Leninist, to win their support for formation of a
government led by it.
"We have asked the leaders of the fringe parties to back
a Nepali Congress-led government and their response was
positive," NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh Khatri Chhetri said
on the eve of the August 21 deadline set by the President.
"We have made it clear that the Nepali Congress cannot
join a Maoist-led government unless they lay down their arms
and manage their combatants," he said.
General secretary of CPN-Marxist Leninist, CP Mainali,
said the fringe parties are ready to support any group that
can form a national government with the commitment to conclude
peace process and draft a new Constitution at the earliest.
The modalities for integrating the Maoist combatants with
the Nepalese security forces and the total strength of such
cadres should be determined and a rehabilitation package for
the disqualified ones be decided soon, he said.
UCPN-Maoist party, meanwhile, decided to show maximum
flexibility in order to form a national consensus government
under the leadership of its Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai.
"The Maoist Standing Committee meeting held in the
Capital today decided to show maximum flexibility on the major
issues of the peace process with a view to forming a consensus
government under its leadership," party spokesman Dinanath
Sharma said.
Separately, the Standing Committee meeting of the CPN-UML
concluded that the UCPN-Maoist and Nepali Congress should
bring forward a clear roadmap to take the peace process to a
logical end prior to the formation of a national consensus
government.
"The meeting decided to intensify discussions with other
parties to forge consensus on forming national consensus
government," party Secretary Shanker Pokharel said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, August 20, 2011, 15:57