Kathmandu, July 20:

The High-level Intra-party Coordination Committee (HICC) of the eight political parties today stressed the need to resolve all political issues raised by Madhesis, Janajatis, Dalits and women through talks.

At a meeting today, it also called for an early meeting of the alliance’s top leaders to discuss political and security issues.

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, on Saturday, had given a 15-day deadline for the agitating Madhesi groups to come for talks and had warned of action if they failed to do so. Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ramchandra Poudel, however, termed Sitaula’s views “personal views”.

Today’s meeting, chaired by UML standing committee member and HICC member Jhala Nath Khanal, decided to ask the top leaders of the eight-party alliance to hold a meeting to discuss the issues of constituent assembly and security situation. Sitaula was invited at the meeting as a special invitee.

A release issued after the meeting said that all parties will launch political campaigns to create environment conducive for the constituent assembly. Poudel said the “government prioritises talks for resolving issues raised by agitating groups.”

He said that meeting of the top leaders of the alliance will be called within a week.

Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said that the eight-party alliance must launch concerted programmes to expose the “criminals” who have become active in political guise.

He said the meeting also agreed to make government appointments on the basis of eight-party consensus.

Meanwhile, Poudel said will visit Dhanusha, Sarlahi and Mahottari on a political mission.