Kathmandu: US ambassador to Nepal Scot H.
DeLisi on Tuesday stepped up parleys with Nepales leaders as he
expressed concern over the failure of the political parties to
form a new government.
DeLisi, who met chairman of the Constituent Assembly
Subhas Nemwang and CPN-UML president Jhala Nath Khanal today,
expressed concern over the failure to form a new government,
delay in the framing of the constitution and peace process,
according to party sources.
He underlined the need to settle all key issues,
including the drafting of a new constitution, peace process
and formation of new government through a consensus.
He assured Washington`s continued support to Nepal`s
peace process.
Last week, the US said it is committed to lend support
to the peace process after the UNMIN ends its mandate in the
country. The UNMIN`s extended tenure is set to expire on
January 15, 2011.
The US envoy`s engagement with senior political
leaders comes at a time when the political crisis has deepened
in Nepal with the Parliament failing to elect a new Prime
Minister, more than 4 months since Prime Minister Madhav
Kumar Nepal tendered his resignation.
Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudyal, the sole
candidate for the post of prime minister, was unable to garner
a majority support for an unprecedented 15th time in a row.
The US Ambassador met Nepali Congress president Sushil
Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda and discussed the latest
political situation yesterday.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress has issued a statement
expressing serious concern over the delay in the integration
and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants.
Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party meeting, presided
over by Poudyal, asked the parties to initiate serious
dialogue to take forward the peace process before completing
the task of drafting the new constitution.
The Maoists, who joined mainstream politics after the
2006 peace deal with the interim government led by G. P.
Koirala, won the largest number of parliamentary seats in the
April 2008 elections.
The Maoists led by Prachanda formed a government, but
it later collapsed after a dispute with President Ram Baran
Yadav over their attempt to replace the then army chief
Rukmangad Katwal.
PTI
23. Omar govt for equitable development of three regions: NC (states – j&k)
Jammu: Ruling National Conference leaders on Tuesday, said the Omar Abdullah government was determined to ensure equitable development of all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Government`s main focus was to develop Jammu, Kashmir
and Ladakh equitably, they told a meeting of party`s district
working committee here.
The government would also ensure that there was no
discrimination against any region, they said and asked party
workers to gear up for ensuing Panchayat polls.
Senior leader Ajay Sadhotra said the ruling party was
pursuing people-oriented policies.
Rattan Lal Gupta, another party leader, said the state
government was committed to hold local bodies and Panchayat
polls which were long over due.
PTI
