Kathmandu, September 10 The meeting of Unified CPN-Maoist office bearers today decided to stop the constitution drafting process for a few days to hold talks with agitating parties. “We are for drafting the constitution soon, but at the same time there is need to address the concerns of the agitating Tharu and Madhesi parties even if the drafting process needs to be delayed by a few days,” said UCPN-M Vice-chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha, following the meeting. He said UCPN-M has called a three-party meeting tomorrow morning where the party will propose to the NC and UML that the ongoing CA meeting be stalled for a few days so as to hold talks with the agitating parties. Tharu and Madhesi parties have been demanding that the ongoing CA process must be halted to create an environment for talks.

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Shrestha, however, said his party was committed to promulgating the constitution soon by defeating the forces wanting to derail the constitution drafting process on one pretext or the other. On the Tharu movement, Shrestha said his party was for including at least Nawalparasi to Kailali districts in the Tharuwan Pradesh. Meanwhile the three top leaders of major parties today sent a letter to Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) urging it to return to the Constituent Assembly. The letter signed by Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman K P Oli and Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal lauds the commitment of RPP-N to democratic procedure despite serious ideological differences. “We expect the party to reconsider its recent decision and continue representation in the Constituent Assembly at this decisive moment of drafting the constitution,” the three leaders have said in the letter. “We request you and your party to continue participation in the constitution drafting process.” Earlier, during the meeting of the three parties with RPP-N leaders at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, RPP-N leaders said they would discuss the proposal within the party and respond accordingly.