KATHMANDU: Four political parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Unified CPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Democratic) — said they were likely to agree to demarcate the boundaries of federal units before promulgating the new constitution and write religious freedom instead of secularism in the new constitution.

A meeting of the four parties held at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s residence in Baluwatar on Monday evening decided to hold separate talks with dissident parties, including Madhes-based parties, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal and Mohan Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist, before reviewing the first draft of the new constitution, according to Nepali Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka.

“We agreed that we will not take position on any of the issues but will try to incorporate the people’s feedback while reviewing the first draft. We will make the fundamentals of democratic constitution and 16-point agreement reached among us on June 8 the major bases while taking decision,” said Khadka.

Chief whips of the four parties submitted a brief report to the top leaders by including the major suggestions received from the people, according to MJF-D General Secretary Ram Janam Chaudhari. The leaders are scheduled to resume talks on Tuesday.

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