Talks failure will harm nation, says minister

Lahan, October 5:

Minister of State for General Administration, Dharmanath Shah, today said that the nation would face grave consequences if the summit talks do not end on a positive note.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised by the CPN-UML Siraha-Kathmandu Contact Forum here, Shah said the things would go awry if the talks failed and that many people would lose their lives.

Urging the Maoists not to create any obstruction in the peace process, Shah said they

are delaying the process of dialogue by raising various issues time and again.

The Maoists should ensure that the issue of managing their weapons is dealt with before they join the interim government, Shah said, adding that if a party with weapons joins the government the international community will not give recognition to such a government. People are hoping that the summit talks scheduled to be held on October 8 will be successful, Shah said.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference at Rajbiraj today, state minister Shah, accused the Maoists of delaying the summit talks. An interim government will not be formed until the issue of the management of Maoists’ weapons is resolved, he said.

He said summit talks scheduled to be held on October 8 would be successful.

Shah was speaking at a press conference in Rajbiraj.

Maoists’ views of keeping their arms and joining the government are not compatible, said Shah. “Problems may crop up if the government does not respond to the demands of the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM),” Shah said, adding that he would draw the attention of the government to the demands of the JTMM and make attempts to solve problems through dialogue.

Shah also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Shah Sewa Sadan Dharmashala in Rajbiraj-4. He promised to provide Rs 56,100 for the construction of the dharmashala by selling three bighas of land he owns.

In another report from Dhangadhi, Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak today said the upcoming summit meeting slated for October 8 will finalise the issues of the Maoists’ arms management and an interim constitution.

He expressed the hope that the government is ready for a constituent assembly.

“People’s aspirations will be fulfilled only after free and fair constituent assembly polls,” he said. Stating that the United Nations team is in Nepal to monitor the government-Maoist talks, he said the world body is looking forward to progress in the peace process.