Heavy weights tackle thorny issues at Hattiban Resort

TIKA R PRADHAN

KATHMANDU: The top-notch leaders of the four political parties – Unified CPN Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN UML and UDMF – have convened to dwell on the thorny issues related to statute drafting at Hattiban Resort in Kathmandu on Sunday afternoon.

The meeting of the bigwigs will mull over the contentious issues including State Restructuring, Electoral System, Judicial System and forms of governance, sources confirmed.

The disgruntled Bidhya faction, that strongly opposed the handover of Maoist weapons and camps to the Nepali Army, is also taking part in the meeting.

The top leaders including UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Vice-chairmen duo Mohan Baidhya and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, leaders Ram Bahadur Thapa, Dev Gurung and Hitman Shakya are participating in the meet from UCPN-M.

Similarly, NC President Sushil Koirala, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel, Krishna Prasad Sitoula, Arjun Narsingh KC and General Secretary Prakash Man Singh Shrestha are participating from the Nepali Congress. Likewise UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader KP Oli, Surendra Pandey and Bhim Rawal are participating from the CPN-UML while Bijya Kumar Gachhadar, Raj Kishor Yadav, Mahendra Yadav and Hridayesh are participating from the UDMF in the Hattiban Resort meeting.

It is learnt that UML leader Pasang Sherpa representing the Indigenous Caucus of the Constituent Assembly (ICCA) has submitted an agenda related to ethnic issues to be discussed in the leaders’ meeting. A total of 218 CA members had formed a group on January 31, 2010 with an aim to incorporating the issues of indigenous nationalities of the country in the new constitution.

The meeting, that runs overnight at Hattiban Resort in Setidevi VDC-, Kathmandu, is expected to come up with concrete decisions on the contentious issues related to statute drafting.