Kathmandu: Amid the deadlock among the
political parties that has stalled the election of new prime
minister, Nepal`s main parties today came together on the
issue of the national flag, agreeing to retain the current
symbol.
In a rare unanimity, the three major parties main
opposition UCPN (Maoist) and the two main coalition partners,
Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML have forged an agreement to
retain the current national flag in the new constitution being
drafted by the lawmakers.
The top leaders have agreed to retain the same colour,
shape, and make of the flag. They decided to explain the
decision by linking it with the accomplishments of the mass
movement that ended the absolute power of the monarchy in
2005, the Kantipur online reported today.
Nepali Congress leader R C Poudyal, who last week quit
the election of the prime minister, said there will be no
modifications to the national flag.
The leaders also decided to confer national
recognition on all the political parties that participated in
landmark 2008 elections for a Constituent Assembly, the report
said. The House was tasked to frame a new constitution and
conclude the 2006 peace process.
Poudyal, who had failed to garner a majority even
after 16 run-off polls, said the decision was taken in a bid
to allow all political parties, including those representing
the marginalised sections of the society, to participate in
future elections.
The meeting finalised the decision today amid deep
differences in the 601-member Assembly, which acts as the
country`s interim parliament. The discussions on various
issues linked to the framing of a new constitution will
continue in the meeting of the 27 parties, the report said.
President Ram Baran Yadav has asked the deadlocked
parties to form a new government based on consensus before
January 21 as political leaders stepped up consultations to
choose a new prime minister.
The call by the first president of the Republic comes
as withdrawal of Poudyal paves the way for a fresh process to
elect a new leader.
The UNMIN, which was established by the world body in
2007 to manage the arms and armed personnel of the Maoists and
the Nepal Army, ended its special peace mission yesterday.
Amid fears of chaos in Nepal, the waring political
parties claimed to have reached an agreement on monitoring of
the former armed Maoist cadres lodged in special camps
overseen by the UN mission.
PTI
