Kathmandu, June 19 :

The sudden signing of the eight-point deal with the CPN-Maoist on Friday has not gone down well with the constituents of the seven-party alliance who are demanding transparency in the peace process.

The main grievance is that neither Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala nor any other leader of the respective political parties discussed what they were going to do on Friday when they signed the eight-point deal.

The Nepali Congress vice-president Sushil Koirala today convened an informal meeting of the Central Working Committee amid growing resentment over the issue. The meeting witnessed strident criticism of the top leadership, with some leaders claiming that the SPA leadership has given away too many concessions and legitimacy to the rebels by signing the eight-point deal.

However, NC central leader Arjun Narsingh KC was more concerned about repeated instances of the party not being taken into confidence before taking vital decisions. He said after the meeting, “Why did Girijababu not refer the issue to the party before going ahead with what he did?”

Others who voiced their resentment include general secretary Ram Chandra Paudel, Narahari Acharya, Binay Dhoj Chand and Ram Krishna Tamrakar. The meeting will reconvene on Wednesday.

CPN-UML central leader Jhala Nath Khanal lamented the entire episode, saying, “Although there is nothing wrong in what has been agreed upon between the leaders, they should have conferred with the party leaders. They should have followed a due process.”

NC (D) central leader Amar Raj Kaini’s main grouse was that the talks team should not have been undermined. He was also against the clubbing of Nepalese Army with the rebel army. He condemned the freeing of Maoists without getting any assurance from Prachanda on the general demand of Maoists giving up extortion and other intimidatory tactics.