E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, NOV 15 - Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal extended his appreciation to the UCPN (Maoist) for holding a peaceful agitation.

During his meeting with Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha at the prime minister’s official residence on Saturday, Nepal appreciated the peaceful, largely well-managed agitation. “I went to meet the ailing prime minister and wished him early recovery. We discussed about finding an amicable solution to the current political stalemate,” said Shrestha after the meeting.

During his brief meeting with the prime minister, the duo discussed possible options to end the existing political deadlock and resume the House to endorse the budget. The budget has been pending due to House disruption for the last several months.

It is a part of the ongoing Maoist initiative to end the stalemate and to show that the party is serious about the widening rift among the big political parties. “The prime minister stressed the need for political consensus. Our observation is that the nation is suffering due to mistrust among the major parties. We both agreed to hold further dialogue,” he said.

The Maoist leader also met Nepali Congress (NC) Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the mandate given by the Jana Andolan to the political parties and the ways to save the country if a crisis emerges. “We have some serious concerns and doubts about Maoist intentions,” Shrestha quoted Poudel as saying.

Stating that only dialogue can help erase doubts, Shrestha said, “To take the peace process to its logical end and draft the constitution on time, there is no alternative to political consensus.”  During the meeting, Poudel alleged that some expressions and acts of the Maoist party had created suspicion and doubt.

“Setting up an autonomous Kirat region has breached the norms and spirit of the Compressive Peace Agreement. Rigid and divergence views on the issue of integration and rehabilitation of former combatants, suspicion of buying arms and the issue of dissolving the Constituent Assembly have given rise to suspicions on both sides,” Shrestha said. Shrestha also held meetings with UML Chair Jhalanath Khanal and Home Minister Bhim Rawal in this connection. “We agreed to continue the dialogue further,”  he said.

Posted on: 2009-11-15 12:04

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