Rautahat, November 12:

CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said today that political consensus was necessary to break the deadlock prevailing in the country.

He added that the first meeting of the House’s next session on November 19 should fix a date for the constituent assembly polls.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Rautahat chapter of Press Chautari in Chandranigahpur, the UML chieftain said, “The seven parties should reach a consensus on fixing the date for the constituent assembly polls at the earliest.”

He warned that in the event of failure to reach a consensus anti-democratic forces would get active.

Nepal stressed that the CA polls should be held anyhow this year. He added that the security situation in the country including the Tarai region would have to be improved.

Nepal also lashed out at the failure of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and his ministry to curb incidents of crime, abductions and murders across the country.

Nepal said only the constituent assembly polls would provide the solution to all the problems in the country.

He pointed out that his party was finding it difficult to function in the government due to the attitude of the Nepali Congress and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

He urged the government to take a clear stand on the issues of a republic and proportional polls. He expressed optimism that the next constitution would provide for a federal state and urged MPs of his party not to make any public statement until parliament enunciates its stand.

He also asked the Maoist leadership to present journalist Birendra Shah’s killers before the government and let the law take its course.