Kathmandu, May 7 :

The House of Representatives today unanimously passed a resolution, directing the government to draw up a code of conduct for both the government and the Maoists.

The House passed the resolution put forth by MP Rajendra Kumar Mahato seeking a code of conduct for both parties to make peace talks between them a success. Deputy Speaker of the House, Chitra Lekha Yadav, read out the unanimous decision on the resolution.

Participating in today’s session, NC MP Benup Raj Prasain said since talks between the government and Maoists have failed twice it would be better to prepare beforehand. He also urged the government and the Maoists to lay down arms.

NC(D) MP Purna Bahadur Khadka said since the government was accountable to the parliament, it was essential to take the right steps while sitting for talks. “Inform people about everything before and after talks,” he added. Khadka urged the government not to dissolve the House until another elected body replaces it.

UML MP Ghanendra Basnet asked the parliament to form a peace talks monitoring committee to monitor the activities of both parties and to put pressure on them if they do not stay in line.

NC MP Tank Rai urged the government and the Maoists to manage their arms and abide by the 12-point pact between the rebels and the seven parties.

MPs Mahedra Yadav, Chitra Bahadur KC, Hom Nath Dahal, Kamal Pant Acharya urged the government and the Maoists to follow aspirations of the people while sitting for peace talks.

Answering the MPs’ questions, Minister for Land Reforms and Management Prabhu Narayan Chaudhary said that the government would inform the House about the progress of peace talks.

In a discussion earlier, UML leader Bharatmohan Adhikari, NC MP Baldev Sharma Majgaiya, NC MP Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu, Janamorcha Nepal’s MP Lilamani Pokrel, NC Binaya Dhoj Chand asked the government not to wait for the report of the recently-formed Krishna Jung Rayamajhi commission but to immediately recall ambassadors and take strong action against the members of the cabinet and security personnel guilty of trying to suppress the Jana Andolan.