KATHMANDU:

PM Girija Prasad Koirala on Sunday left for Biratnagar on a three-day holiday, dodging the political crisis here that has erupted after continued stalling of parliamentary business. Koirala was otherwise expected to convene an all-party meeting on Sunday. The Maoists, the CPN-UML and the Speaker have been demanding that the PM convene such a meeting to address the current political deadlock. The all-party meeting was expected to come up with a solution to the continued disruption of parliamentary proceedings by working out a solution to the demands made by Maoists and MPs of the Tarai.

Meanwhile, a source close to Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said the chances of the government releasing additional budget for Maoist cantonments and the Maoists coming up with a serious commitment to put an end to violence perpetrated by the Young Communist League immediately are slim. The main reason for this is that both the sides have opted a “wait and watch policy”.

The source said that the government has adopted a tough position on releasing more funds for the Maoists following “tremendous objection” from the Nepali Congress (NC) district unit chiefs.