Kathmandu, April 30

Leaders of parties attending today’s all-party meeting called by the government vehemently criticised the government for failing to work out issues with the agitating parties and delaying reconstruction works.

Addressing the meeting as soon as Prime Minister Oli presented the agenda, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba said the government’s policy and programme wouldn’t be accepted without a pre-budget discussion. He also said his party wouldn’t participate in the political committee formed without consulting his party.

Emerging from the meeting, Deuba criticised the performance of the National Reconstruction Authority and expressed serious doubt that the quake victims would have shelters before monsoon. He also doubted their plight would be alleviated.

Saying his party was ready to send volunteers for reconstruction works, Deuba urged the government to expedite reconstruction projects right away.

General Secretary of the major coalition partner Unified CPN-Maoist Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the meeting discussed ways to make the upcoming parliament session effective; resolving the issues of Madhes and expediting reconstruction works.

Presenting the agenda of the meeting, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said all political parties should jointly deploy volunteers to accelerate post-quake reconstruction works and added that the National Reconstruction Authority would plan and draft policies for deploying and coordinating volunteers. He said the sum spent by national and international organisations on reconstruction works would be monitored.

PM Oli proposed that the parties to begin the campaign from May 14 for 15 days.

The PM also directed the NRA to make plans and programmes for national and international organisations willing to volunteer in the government’s reconstruction campaign.

He said the government was ready to hold talks with the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front and resolve their issues through talks, keeping national interest in the forefront.

NC leader Mahesh Acharya said his party urged the prime minister to take the initiative and hold talks with the agitating parties himself.

The PM urged the parties to make the budget session effective as the government has already called the budget session of Parliament for Tuesday and would table its policy and programmes on Thursday.

After parties in and outside the government stressed the need to continue with the existing provision, PM Oli said the ongoing differences over Parliamentary Regulations and the Parliamentary Hearing Committee would be resolved through consensus.

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and leader Mahesh Acharya, UCPN-M General Secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahara, RPP-Nepal President Kamal Thapa, CP Mainali from CPN-ML, Laxman Rajbanshi of Newa Rastriya Party and Pashupati Shumsher Rana from Rastriya Prajatantra Party were present in today’s all party meeting, among others.

Leaders of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) had announced a boycott of the meeting claiming that they were for decisive and result-oriented talks.