KATHMANDU: A meeting of the central office bearers of the Unified CPN-Maoist, held at the residence of party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in Naya Bazaar this morning, decided not to deal with other parties the single issue of opening the House.

“The meeting decided to deal all the pertaining issues in a package,” said party vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ after the meeting.

Chairman Prachanda had briefed the leaders about his meeting with Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala in Singapore. The Maoist leaders present at the meeting expressed hope that the parties would forge consensus before the Friday’s deadline for launching the third round of agitation.

The Maoists’ secretary CP Gajurel said Koirala’s proposal to find a middle path had raised hope for consensus. Casting doubt about building a consensus immediately after Koirala’s return, he, however, said things were going in a positive direction.

Gajurel said his party had intensified talks with other parties in a bid to forge consensus. He also said the party’s standing committee meeting would be held in Paris Danda on Friday morning. The Maoists’ central committee meeting is slated to begin Saturday.

Kiran set for third phase of stir

KATHMANDU: At a time when the UCPN-Maoist Prachanda has been claiming that the parties will have to forge consensus sooner or later, vice-chairman of the party Mohan Baidhya ‘Kiran’ said on Thursday that the party would go ahead with the third-phase of protests.

Claiming that the government was not serious to fulfill their demands, the Maoist leader said, “Instead, the political parties

have started taking initiatives to forge consensus. This is why we have to go ahead with our third-phase protest plan.”

The Maoist leader said that the protest this time would be decisive.