Bara/Rautahat, May 19:

General secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-UML (CPN-UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal today said yesterday’s historic declaration of the House of Representatives was the initiation of the process of making the Nepali people sovereign.

Urging the government to announce the date for the election to the constituent assembly, Nepal further said: “Issues like racial discrimination, women’s rights, granting citizenship certificates to children even on matrilineal basis will be addressed by the new constituent assembly.”

Speaking at a programme organised to pay homage to martyr Hira Lal Gautam, in Nijgarh, Bara, Nepal said talks with the Maoists should be started immediately. Gautam was killed in course of the pro-democracy movement.

Urging all people to contribute to the establishment of a new Nepal, the CPN-UML general secretary called on the Maoists to stop extortion and work for the betterment of the people.

The army will be turned into a democratic force, Nepal said, vowing to respect the sacrifice made by the martyrs. Nepal handed over Rs 37,000 collected from different sections of the society to Gautam’s father Shadananda Gautam.

Before taking part in the programme, Nepal reached Gautam’s residence in Nijgarh-2 and met the family members. The historic declaration of the House of Representative has paved the way for the formation of a new Nepal, a report from Rautahat quoted Nepal as saying today.

Nepal was addressing a gathering of party activists organised by the CPN-UML District Committee (Rautahat) in Chandranigahpur.

He said the parliament reinstated through the people’s movement brought about the most important change in Nepal’s history.

People are the ultimate source of state power, Nepal said, adding: “Now, people won’t have to launch agitations time and again”.

Calling on all sides to soften their stances for the restoration of peace and nation-building, he stressed the need to hold talks with the Maoists at the earliest and go for the Constituent Assembly election.

He said the seven parties and the Maoists should refrain from activities that create an atmosphere of suspicion among them.