PM appreciates Maoists no-confidence motion plan

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today said that

he would ‘appreciate’ if the Unified CPN-Maoist could show their strength in the parliament through a motion

of no-confidence against

the government.

Emerging from a meeting with Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (NWPP) chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe, held at the latter’s residence in Bhaktapur, the PM said that the no-confidence motion was a natural process in a parliamentary system.

The PM said that despite media reports that the NWPP had withdrawn its support to the present coalition, he found that the party was still supporting the government.

The PM did not, however, commented on yesterday’s statement of the Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung and said, “Leaders of the political parties should settle the issue of army integration without being bothered of what the Nepali Army said.”

The PM said, “UNIFIED CPN-M chairman Prachanda is yet to react about his earlier verbal agreement with Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala regarding the number of the combatants to be integrated in security bodies. We will talk on the issue.”

The duo dwelt on the peace and the constitution-drafting processes for more than an hour. “We, mainly discussed adopting the prime ministerial or presidential system in the new constitution, integration of Maoist combatants and formation of local bodies,” said Bijukchhe. Meanwhile, the PM requested the NWPP chairman to second the CPN-UML’s proposal of electing the prime minister through direct voting while Bijukchhe pleaded for a direct election of the president. “We should learn from our past and adopt a system with a powerful president

for quality government and political stability,” Bijukchhe told the PM.

Bijukchhe maintained that he suggested the PM not to accept bulk entry of Maoist combatants into the Nepali Army. “All Nepali people should have equal rights to join the security bodies and there should not be special privilege for the combatants or any other groups,” he reasoned. Stating that the state coffer was being misused due to absence of local bodies for the past eight years, Bijukchhe requested the PM to reinstate the local bodies or hold elections at the earliest.

Maoist desire natural: Paudel

Kathmandu: Nepali Congress Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel on Saturday said the UCPN-Maoist’s plan to table a vote of no-confidence in the parliament against the government was a “natural process.” Talking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport upon his return from week-long visit to Japan, Paudel said Maoist’s move would be appreciable in a parliamentary system. He also seconded as statement made by Chief of Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung on the issue of army integration. Paudel said that a bulk entry of the combatants into the security bodies would not be acceptable to the NC. He stressed that UNMIN should provide records of combatants to the government. Paudel said that Japanese leaders expressed serious concern about Nepal’s peace process in meetings with him.