Nepal party rules out Maoist deal
Amid Maoists’ demand for a national consensus government, a top party in Nepal’s ruling coalition has claimed the former rebels have a hidden agenda of imposing totalitarian rule and said it cannot agree on a power-sharing deal unless completion of the peace process and drafting of a democratic Constitution are ensured.
The Nepali Congress party, which held a meeting with a group of intellectuals on the current political stalemate at the residence of its acting President Shushil Koirala, alleged that Opposition Maoists were unwilling to conclude the peace process.
“We are in favour of seeking consensus in totality of issues by taking the peace process to a logical conclusion through dialogue,” said Mr Koirala. “We cannot compromise at the cost of the peace and drafting of a democratic Constitution.”
Maoists have also been seeking resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal who, they claimed, had given them a commitment that he would quit after the former rebels supported a Parliamentary motion to extend the term of the Constituent Assembly, which was to expire on May 28, by one year. “We are not making Prime Minister’s post the focal point, as our main concern is completion of the peace process,” Nepali Congress vice-president Ramchandra Poudyal said.
In reply to a question, Mr Poudyal said the Maoists’ demand for forming a government on the basis of consensus “had a hidden agenda of imposing totalitarian rule, which we cannot agree on.” The Maoists have demanded that the provision to change the government through a simple majority should be abolished and a new provision requiring two-third majority for the purpose should be added. —PTI
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