No surprise if accord not signed today: Mainali

Kathmandu, November 20:

People need not raise eyebrows if the peace agreement is not signed even tomorrow, CPN-ML leader CP Mainali said today.

Many crucial things need to be decided on before the agreement is officially endorsed by the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) and the Maoists, he said.

Addressing an interaction on ‘Interim parliament and constitution assembly’ organised by the Human Rights and Peace Foundation here, Mainali said the SPA and the Maoists will discuss many things tomorrow before striking the final deal.

The vice-president of Jana Morcha Nepal, Lila Mani Pokharel, said the issue of arms management still needs to be settled. “So far, only an agreement on primary management has been reached. The final settlement of the issue is yet to be made,” he said. He doubted whether the Nepal Army would remain loyal towards democracy.

Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC said that although the seats in the interim parliament have been allocated for the Maoists and the NC, it was not clear whether 48 seats would be given to civil society or other parties.