MPs call on govt to hold next round of talks soon

Kathmandu, November 2:

Members of Parliament today demanded the government hold the next round of peace talks with the Maoists as soon as possible. An MP also demanded the government promulgate an interim constitution at the earliest so that elections to a Constituent Assembly could be held by May.

“Without the promulgation of the interim constitution, elections to a Constituent Assembly cannot be held,” said Bharat Mohan Adhikary. He was speaking at the special hour in the House that resumed its session today after a long break.

“Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel has strongly urged the promulgation of an interim constitution that has a provision of a Constituent Assembly. It is the duty of the government to promulgate the statute,” Adhikary said.

He added that the government should do this within two weeks.

According to him, the position of the King should be made clear so that the peace process moves ahead without hitting any hurdle.

“Referendum is the only way to decide on the King’s future,” he said.

He also demanded the government hold the next round of talks with the Maoists as soon as possible. “The talks should be held within next week as it is already delayed,” Adhikary said. He further criticised the Maoists’ donation collection drive.

MP Ram Chandra Paudel also called on the government to inform the House of the developments in the talks.

He also called on the government and the Maoists to abide by the five-point agreement signed between them while inviting the United Nations to monitor the peace process.

MP Hom Nath Dahal called on the Maoists to give up their “illegal activities” and urged them to settle all issues peacefully.

MPs Pari Thapa, Lilamani Pokhrel, Hari Acharya, Rajendra Mahato and Narayan Man Bijukchhe also called on the government and the Maoists to speed up the peace process.

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Amik Sherchan informed the House of the deaths in several villages in Banke district following the spread of an unknown disease. He, however, said the government has no information about the spread of dengue.

Sherchan said 29 of the 31 people who died in the villages in Banke were suffering from cerebral malaria.

According to him, though the disease has affected 521 persons, malarial parasite was not found in some of them.