Leaders term government-Federal Alliance meet positive
KATHMANDU: Discussions between the agitating Federal Alliance and the government have become positive, according to leaders of both sides.
The FA has been launching agitation demanding an amendment to the Constitution.
During the meeting held at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar on Sunday evening, the Alliance leaders said that the discussion had moved ahead in a positive way.
The formal talks were held on Sunday soon after the FA including the United Democratic Madhesi Front drew the attention of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday to forward formal discussions on Constitution amendment as per the three-point agreement signed between the ruling parties and the Alliance before the government formation.
READ ALSO:
The FA Secretariat Coordinator Rajendra Shrestha told the Rastriya Samachar Samiti that the first formal meeting with the government was positive.
Shrestha said, "The first formal meeting has taken place after two months. We openly put forth our demands. The discussion was held positively."
Shrestha, also the Co-Chairman of the Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal, further said that Prime Minister Dahal shared in the meeting that the Constitution amendment proposal would be registered on consensus as far as possible.
The meeting also discussed making some changes to the federal structure and delineation of provinces even by expanding the scope of work of the proposed Federal Commission.
After the meeting, Spokesperson of the CPN Maoist Centre, Pampha Bhusal, also said that the discussion with FA was fruitful and positive.
She said that an understanding was reached to register the Constitution amendment proposal within mid-November.
On the occasion, the FA reiterated the demands including retaining the federal structure as recommended in the report of the State Restructuring Commission and ensuring proportional inclusion.
Taking part in the discussion today were PM Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Krishna Bahadur Mahara, CPN Maoist Centre leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, and Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato and Rajendra Shrestha of the Federal Alliance.