Dahal seeks unity govt in place ‘pronto’
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday proposed formation of a national consensus government “without delay” to expedite the stalled peace and constitution writing processes. Also on Monday, a meeting of top Maoist leaders decided to ask Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to take steps to form such a government.
In a meeting with Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala on Monday, Dahal underscored the need for national consensus to take the twin tasks ahead. Koirala told Dahal that NC’s priority is progress on peace and constitution and not government.
Dahal’s remarks come a day after the Maoist Central Committee decided to begin a process to form a national unity government as per the seven-point understanding among political parties reached on November 1.
“Without formation of a national consensus government first, these processes cannot move ahead in a smooth manner,” Maoist leader Haribol Gajurel said.
Maoist leaders say that as the party’s hardline faction, the NC and the UML will not join the present government which was formed on the basis of a four-point agreement, the government will have to be “reshuffled” to allow the formation of a new government under Bhattarai’s leadership. Dahal’s personal aide Sameer Dahal said both the leaders (Dahal and Koirala) discussed the government formation, ways to speed up the peace process and consensus on forms of governance.
Dahal, however, did not elaborate on whether he wants to transform the Bhattarai-led government into a national consensus one or change the leadership. Dahal is arguing that all options on government leadership are on the table, but that he is in favour of the present government continuing with induction of the opposition parties. The hardline faction of the Maoist party has been demanding Bhattarai’s resignation to pave way for a consensus government. After the meeting with Dahal, Koirala said they held discussions on bidding farewell to Maoist combatants who opted for voluntary retirement, constitution drafting, and other issues.
Koirala urged Dahal to implement the seven-point agreement and begin the process of sending off the combatants.
Posted on: 2012-01-17 09:00
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