KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 27

A meeting of the Socialist Front held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar today stressed on speedy formulation of laws required for federalism implementation.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) leader Rajendra Prasad Shrestha said the Front suggested to the Prime Minister to implement the federalism-related laws even through ordinance to empower the provinces.

"Various forces are active in attacking federalism, republic and secularism. The government should step forward and dedicate itself to implementing the federalism. People have the thinking that the province government is a burden as the provinces are not adequately empowered," Shrestha said, adding that it is a weakness not to implement the provision of the constitution itself for eight years. The Front has advised the PM to implement the federalism-related laws even by issuing ordinance, he further said.

According to Shrestha, the leaders expressed concern over what they called the republic, federalism and secularism being increasingly questioned. Stating that there is the enthusiastic support of the people to the Socialist Front in the provinces, he said suggestions also came in the meeting regarding continuing ahead with the Front.

"Our conclusion is that there is the enthusiastic support of the people for the Front in course of expanding it at present," Shrestha added. He said that in the meeting the leaders lauded the government for carrying out exemplary works cracking down on corruption, stating many works have been carried out at present in the country's history itself to stem corruption. The Front also thanked the government for this step.

As leader Shrestha said, the Front has made plans to organize programmes to tear apart questions raised in connection with federalism, republic and secularism. "The Front shall constitute the district coordination committee in all districts where such committees remain to be formed. It has devised plan to conduct various programmes in the major cities," he shared.

Leader Shrestha said discussions were also held in the meeting on the topic of taking the Front ahead in a new way. The Socialist Front will again meet at 6.00pm today.