KATHMANDU: The country has plunged into yet another political deadlock after the political parties failed to settle the Maoist-backed issue related to reinstatement of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.

An all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today failed to reach consensus after the UCPN-Maoist and other parties remained adamant in changing their stances vis-à-vis the President's move. The UCPN-M leaders demanded either to correct the President's move or discuss the issue in parliament and take a decision through a parliamentary motion. However, other parties maintained that the Maoist demand was irrelevant and meaningless.

The meeting was held at International Convention Center, New Baneshwor.

Expressing his dissatisfaction over, what he said "the irresponsibility of the coalition partners", Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai walked out of the meeting when it was in progress. He accused the coalition parties of not being serious to their demands.

Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, after the meeting, said the Maoist appealed to the coalition partners for seeking solution within two days. "There is no option except for seeking solution through a parliamentary motion," he said, accusing the other parties of trying to push the country to a disaster.

Nepali Congress vice president Ram Chandra Paudel reiterated that the Maoists should leave the issue since the President's move was constitutional and their issue was irrelevant. "It's is just their ego problem," he said, adding, "The Speaker has already rejected the parliamentary motion registered by the Maoists as it was illegal."

According to him, they would rather look for an outlet by amending the law to remove any ambiguity but the Maoist should not obstruct the process of drafting the constitution.

The meeting was called even as just two days are left before the timeframe pledged by the PM Nepal to resolve the issue finishes. Some four weeks ago, the PM had assured the Maoists that an attempt would be made to settle the CoAS issue through discussions among the parties within a month. The Maoists have already threatened to start fresh agitation from parliament and the streets from Friday.

Maoist’s demand irrelevant

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala said on Tuesday that the Maoist's demand to correct the President's move pertaining to the reinstatement of army chief was irrelevant and meaningless. Koirala claimed that the move taken by the President was constitutional. "The Maoist's slated protest programmes against the President won't make any difference to the government and others," he told reporters at his residence in Maharajgunj. "I've clearly told Maoist chairman Prachanda not to raise the issue anymore to which he had agreed during a recent meeting," he said. "But, I can't understand why their (Maoist's) activities are different now." — HNS