Dharan, April 23, 2008

Coordinator of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Upendra Yadav has said the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly cannot abolish the monarchy.

Speaking at a felicitation programme organised for CA members by the Sunsari Chambers of Commerce and Industries today, Yadav, who was elected to the CA from Sunsari-5, said, “It is impossible for the first meeting of the CA to abolish the monarchy.

Those who are saying that the first CA meeting will abolish the monarchy are fooling the people.” Yadav claimed that the first meeting will be over just after the new members take the oath of office and observe silence for martyrs.

It will have no time to deal with any political agenda, he said, claiming that the constituents of the seven-party alliance will try to divert the CA meeting towards technical aspects to keep the monarchy. “I even drew the attention of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on this, but he paid no heed.”

He claimed that the proposed federal state system is the outcome of the Madhes agitation. Asked about the possibility of the MJF joining the government, he said that the parties should come up with a Minimum Common Agenda (MCA) for this. “

The MCA should realise the promises made in the past for the Madhesi cause. The issue of an alliance comes after that,” he said. Yadav said the MJF had not yet received any proposal of powersharing in the government.

Crucial NC CWC meet from today

Kathmandu, April 23, 2008

The Nepali Congress is holding its Central Working Committee meeting from tomorrow to assess the party’s poor performance in the constituent assembly election and decide whether to take part in the next government to be led by the Maoists, the party office said.

All 63 CWC members have been asked to compulsorily take part in the crucial meeting due to start tomorrow morning at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, Jeevan Prem Shrestha, principal secretary of the NC central office, said.

The meeting will continue for a few days. NC leaders are split over the issue of joining the Maoist-led government while the party’s affiliate units have urged the leadership not to join the next government and to focus on the constitution drafting process. The party sources added that the CWC will first dwell on the reports lodged by all district committees and candidates of the party. “Reports from most of the districts have already arrived. We will compile and summarise them before tabling them at the CWC,” Shrestha said.

The NC had directed the party’s 75 district chairpersons and candidates to furnish a detailed report on the election to the party headquarters by April 22.