Issues of national import bigger than PM's post: Nepal
Issues of national import bigger than PM's post: Nepal
Published: 05:26 am Mar 30, 2010
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today said that PM’s position was meaningless when compared to national agendas of peace process and new constitution. Talking to a delegation of Nepali Congress youth leaders during a meeting with them at his office in Singha Durbar he said, “I have not thought PM’s post is bigger than the issue of nation building and I have sufficient alternatives to settle the contentious national agendas. But the ball is in the Maoists’ court to move forward in the capacity of the largest party.” The PM, according to NC youth leader Chandra Bhandari, said, “Democratic way to achieve power is open for the Maoists if they want.” He also said that coalition partners, however, will not compromise with the Maoists on the universal values of democracy while writing the new constitution. The NC youth leaders had suggested the PM to be serious about the adverse situation and challenges if the constitution cannot be written by May 28. Referring to the recent statements of ex-king Gyanendra Shah and former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the delegation told the PM to move ahead carefully against any kind of conspiracies against the republic. Shah and Bhattarai had given their separate statements in support of constitutional monarchy recently. The NC leaders also told the PM that the peace process will never be completed until the Maoist combatants were managed and urged the PM to bring forth a concrete plan for managing combatants before promulgating the constitution. Bhisma Raj Angdambe, Dhan Raj Gurung and Sarita Prasain among others were in the delegation. Meanwhile, the PM has expedited consultations with leaders of fringe political parties and has requested them to help in the peace and constitution-drafting processes. Chitra Bahadur KC, chairman, Rastriya Janamorcha, Sunil Prajapati of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Keshav Mainali, chairman, Chure Bhawar Ekta Party, Prem Bahadur Singh of Samajbadi Janata Party, Laxmi Lal Chaudhari of Loktantrik Samajbadi Janata Dal and Khagendra Makhim of Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Munch met the PM separately at his office in Singh Durbar today. “We expressed our concern over the deadlock in the constitution-writing process due to power struggle among the three big parties,” said chairman KC. The parties also suggested the PM to settle the issue of Maoist combatants at the earliest. The PM is scheduled to consult with other fringe parties tomorrow too.