Kathmandu, Jan 22: Nepali Congress Vice President Ramchandra Poudel today ruled out the necessity of holding dialogue and negotiating with the UCPN (Maoist) and the Madhes-centric political parties.
Speaking to journalists following the obstruction of the Constituent Assembly session, Poudel said negotiations were not necessary as the opposition’s attitude coupled with behaviour were contradictory to the constitution making process. Poudel also accused the opposition parties of attempting to systematically attack the CA Chairman and the ruling party leaders.
“We have already submitted a memorandum to the CA Chairman bearing the signatures of 450 lawmakers to start constitution making process, and I feel that the CA Chairman will take appropriate decision,” he said.
The CA Chair holds the authority for defining the CA Rules and its implementation, said NC Vice President Poudel.
“NC wants to save the CA and draft a new constitution through it,” he said.
Asked whether Marshals would be used to force the opposition lawmakers outside of the CA, Poudel said it would not be the case.
Constitution by this week
CPN (UML) senior leader Jhalanath Khanal has asserted that the new constitution would be promulgated by this week through democratic process and system.
Exiting the CA hall, Khanal said a consensus on the content of the constitution could not be reached as the opposition parties had obstinately stuck to their stances. He was of the opinion that a constitution based on a complete consensus had not been witnessed anywhere in the world.
“The NC and UML will exercise the patience and heart of that of a Buddha and promulgate the constitution from the CA which cannot be dissolved without delivering a constitution,” leader Khanal stressed adding, “Consensus cannot be reached without UCPN (Maoist) sitting on the negotiating table.”
Effort must be towards consensus: Gajurel
UCPN (Maoist) leader Haribole Gajurel called for renewed effort towards consensus among the parties by ending the current impasse. He underscored the need for advancing the process of dialogue, consensus and negotiation.
“The CA has been turned into a barrack, the CA members are being subjected to strict security checking which has aggravated the problem,” Gajurel said. RSS
