Kathmandu, September 24

A meeting of the three major parties - the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the Unified CPN-Maoist -- today decided to renew their call for dialogue to protesting Madhesi and Tharu forces.

UCPN-M negotiator Narayan Kaji Shrestha said they also decided to form a talks team and would start informal negotiations with the protesting forces on constitutional issues from tomorrow. “We will soon hold negotiations with the protesting forces but we urge them not to resort to vandalism and blockade,” he added.

The major parties also decided to launch a national and international campaign to highlight the major aspects of the newly adopted constitution. Shrestha said the major parties would organise programmes across the nation to tell the public about the positive aspects of the constitution.

Shrestha said the three parties also decided to send a special team headed by the prime minister to India to address the southern neighbour’s concerns.

Major parties could also send their party delegates to India and other international destinations to address their concerns about the new constitution. Shrestha said the parties also decided to talk to the government of India to ask why expected number of vehicles were not passing through the border points. Asked if the three parties discussed withdrawal of Nepali Army from the Tarai districts, Shrestha replied in the negative. He also said the parties did not discuss formation of new government.

Co-chair of Sadbhawana Party Laxman Lal Karna said the major parties made a positive move today but that was not enough for them to sit for talks. “We do not want to go to Baluwatar just to have a cup of tea. First the government should bring normalcy to the Tarai districts by withdrawing the Nepali Army, after which it should assure us that it would implement the eight-point and 22-point agreements reached with us,” he said, adding that the major parties should disclose who gave them the right to ignore the provisions of the Interim Constitution.

Karna said the government should declare those killed in police firing as martyrs.

NC Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha said the Cabinet might decide tomorrow on recommending when to convene the next session of the Parliament. As per the PM’s recommendations, Shrestha added, the President might call the next session of Parliament on October 2.