KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav said that top leaders of the four major political forces should have taken the preliminary draft of the new constitution to the people after naming and delineating the federal provinces.

During the meeting held at Sheetal Niwas today, President Yadav suggested the leaders of the four major political forces  to bring the parties, who have been venting their dissatisfaction in constitution writing, into consensus.

"It would be better if you included dissident voices inside and outside the Constituent Assembly," the President's Office quoted Yadav  in a statement, as telling to party leaders at the meeting, "And, those attempts should be visible to people."

He also called the leaders to exhibit utmost farsightedness and statesmanship while drafting the constitution, according to the statement. "Experts have been criticising that the constitution draft has been a document of disagreements, which should have been the document of agreements," said the President.

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar said that the President congratulated and thanked the political parties for the 16-point pact signed among four major political forces and for taking the draft before the people for feedback.

President Yadav suggested the top leaders to address the demands of the disgruntled parties by making some amendment to the draft to bring them to consensus, added Gachhadar.

While stating that the constitution should incorporate voices of all, he suggested the leaders to provide sufficient time to discuss on the draft constitution.

"Please do not doubt that I am talking this to lengthen someone's tenure," the President maintained, clarifying that he is ready to quit any time if the parties ask.

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The President also inquired about how the demands of the Madhesh-based parties could be addressed regarding the issue of citizenship.

The leaders assured the President that they would move ahead by addressing the demands of the disgruntled parties and taking feedback of the people regarding this, added Gachhadar.

Lauding the unity shown by all the political parties to face disaster after the 'Gorkha' earthquake, President Yadav urged them to show such unity in the rehabilitation and reconstruction works.

Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, MJF-D Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar were present on the occasion.

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