Biratnagar, November 21:

Danish envoy to Nepal Finn Thilsted has urged the seven parties to fix a new date for constituent assembly polls at the earliest.

Inaugurating a five-day training on women leadership development, organised by ABC Nepal, here today, the envoy said Denmark was concerned about the deferral of polls set for November 22. He also said all seven parties were responsible for the deferral.

Expressing his surprise at Nepali people’s silence over the poll deferral, Thilsted said the people should press the government and parties for the CA polls, like what did for restoration of democracy last year.

“Nepal’s major donor nations were serious at Nepal’s failure to hold constituent assembly polls,” he said, adding that it’s now time that seven parties became serious on it and moved ahead with common understanding.

Thilsted said sustainable peace in Nepal would be difficult without holding the polls. He also said all forms of discrimination against Dalits and indigenous nationalities should stop for a sustainable peace.

Disagreeing with Nepali political leaders’ views that development

activities will gain momentum only after peace, the Danish envoy said unemployment should be brought down and economic growth should be maintained.

Citing examples of India and China, envoy Thilsted said the development process in Nepal should pick up speed if the country were to survive the competition with the giant neighbours.