Govt fails to woo Yadav on ordinances

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Ministers Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and Narayan Kaji Shrestha today failed to convince President Ram Baran Yadav about the necessity to bring ordinances.

Despite their efforts to get his nod to the ordinances, which are ‘essential for the state’ the President told them not to concentrate on ordinances but work towards building political consensus to draft the constitution.

“He (President) told the ministers that promulgating the constitution should be the main focus,” Rajendra Dahal, Press Adviser to the President told The Himalayan Times.

“As the nation is facing problem due to the differences among political parties, I expect the government to concentrate all efforts towards this end,” Dahal quoted President as saying.

After the President rejected two election related ordinances two weeks ago, the government sent the ministers to meet the President to convince him about the necessity of the ordinances. The government has ordinances relating to education, health, administration, appointment in vital posts including and formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on Disappeared waiting for the President’s nod.

Citing that the country was facing various problems due to a legal vacuum, the ministers said that it was urgent to promulgate the ordinances, during their two hour long meeting with the President.

DPM Shrestha, however, said the President assured them that he will not take any steps against the will of the three major parties and Madhesi forces. Shrestha also said that the government will not resend the rejected ordinances soon to the President but forward those essential ordinances only after forging consensus among the parties.