Kathmandu, May 9:

Inclusive democracy and restructuring of the state are common agendas of the seven political parties, vice-president of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala said today.

Calling on all not to doubt the parties’ commitment to inclusive democracy and restructuring of the state, he said: “There should be free space for ethnic communities, languages, women, Dalit and others. In the era of globalisation, no country can survive if it continues to adhere to feudal mentality.”

“Nepal now stands in a transitional situation. If we fail to move forward with caution, the anti-revolutionary forces will become active,” he said.

Koirala added he would table the proposals forwarded by the intelligentsia in the central working committee of the party, which is scheduled to take place soon.

Calling on the intelligentsia and professionals to focus on institutionalising the rights restored through transition, NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel called on the former to stop bickering over minor issues.

“Above all, we should focus on forging a coalition between the government and the Maoists,” he said.

The government should immediately finalise a code of conduct, sign Human Rights Convention and sit down on talks table that would be followed by the election to a constituent assembly.

Paudel also suggested the government to urge the Maoists to stop extortions and abductions.

Lawmaker and chairman of the Nepal Buddhijibi Parishad Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar stressed the need to draft an interim constitution. Such a constitution, he said, would pave the way for making historic decisions.

The government should begin managing arms both of the government and the Maoists under the aegis of the UN or other international agency and go for dialogue, said chairman of the Nepal University Teachers’ Association Bhupati Dhakal.

The programme was organised by the Society fo Democratic Thinking.