KATHMANDU, July 10

President Ram Baran Yadav on Friday called the chiefs of four parties — the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, the Unified CPN-Maoist and the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic — at Shital Niwas and told them to respect the recent interim order issued by the Supreme Court.

Responding to a writ the Supreme Court had issued an interim order on June 19 telling the defendants, including the political parties, to ensure that all issues of federalism are resolved by this CA when it promulgates a new constitution.

Urges four major parties not to postpone resolution of any constitutional dispute, including issues related to federalism

According to a press note issued by the Office of the President, the President told the leaders that if they had any problem with the apex court’s order, they should seek appropriate legal remedies but they should not ignore court’s order.

“I have heard some leaders saying that the (draft) constitution is more like a document of disagreement rather than a document of consensus,” the press note quoted the President as telling the leaders.

The Head of State also urged them to show their farsightedness and statesmanship in accommodating stakeholders’ concerns.

President Yadav said it would be better if federalism, peoples’ sovereignty, democracy, republicanism, and the rule of law were ensured by this CA.

The President wished that democracy, republicanism and federalism were in the unamendable part of the constitution.

President’s Legal Adviser Surya Dhungel said the President told the leaders that he enjoyed their support to become the first President of the republic and if they all wanted him to quit, he would be ready to do so. “If you want I am ready to quit now. I had told the same thing in the past. If you suspect my intention, prepare a written document and I am ready to sign it,” the press note quoted the PM as telling the leaders.

The Head of State urged the leaders to pay special attention to the issues of national integrity, democracy, republicanism and federalism, and ensure independence of judiciary and checks and balances between the state organs.

The President also told the leaders that disputed issues should not be postponed anymore.

According to Dhungel, the President also told the leaders that it would be appropriate to retain Interim Constitution’s provision regarding appointments in the Nepali Army and its mobilisation.

According to a source, privy to the President’s meeting with the top leaders of the signatories of the 16-point agreement, NC President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, UCPN-M Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and MJF-D Chair Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar told the President that they were ready to make efforts to forge consensus on federalism issues during the public feedback collection period but UML Chair Oli told the President that parties would not backtrack on federalism and constitution-making process should not stop just because they could not forge consensus on federalism during the public feedback collection period.