KATHMAMDU: General Secretary of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury today welcomed the 16-point agreement of the four major political forces and said it has paved the way for an early new constitution in Nepal.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and separately addressing an interaction in the Capital today, he reiterated that the midnight agreement of Monday ensured a broader unity among key political stakeholders at a hard time following the devastating April 25 earthquake. The deal was sealed between Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and MJF-Democratic late Monday.

Yechury also urged all remaining political forces— including some Madhesi parties who are opposing the deal— to take the agreement as an opportunity for writing a new constitution.

“There is no alternative to negotiation. I urge all Madhesi parties to resume talks and resolve their issues.”

He reminded that the statute can be amended later as well if it was felt necessary, stating that the Indian constitution itself has so far been amended  as many as 113 times.

To support earthquakes survivors of Nepal, he also handed over a cheque of Rs 52.13 million to PM Koirala during their meeting at Baluwatar this morning. The money was collected by CPI-M cadres from Indian people upon the request of South Asia Foundation.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Private Secretariat, it has been requested that the amount be used for building schools, health posts and residential houses in Jhule village of Dolakha district.

“This money was not collected from corporate houses. It

was raised by CPI-M cadres from common people of India within two days,” Yechury said at an interaction organised by Reporters Club.

“This assistance is a proof that Indian people are with Nepal during its difficult time,” he said, while stating that India and Nepal are twin-brothers and one’s pain hurts another.

Yechury— who played a key role in encouraging the then CPN-Maoist to join mainstream politics through the 12-point Delhi agreement in November 2005 — said the new deal among key political actors had given hope for early institutionalisation of the republican order initiated after the People’s Movement II, 2006 in Nepal.