Political leaders came together today for a open political dialogue programme organised by ABC Television and Sarbahara Kosh in the Capital.
Speaking at the program, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that he never believed that a responsible party like the Nepali Congress will decide against extension of the Constituent Assembly tenure at a time when the CA has been working actively and peace process has been moving ahead. He expressed hope that the present political crisis will end by tomorrow.
"The CA term should be lengthened by clearly stating that the extended deadline is for the last time and it will be appropriate if the CA members don’t take allowance now," he said.
Saying that parties should apologise for not making the expected progress, he dispelled rumour that the CA hasn’t done anything and informed that a clear timeframe regarding army integration and rehabilitation will be tabled in the next meeting of the Special Committee.
"Of 250 disputed issues related to constitution drafting, only 22 have left now; the People’s Liberation Army has come under the Special Committee after UNMIN’s departure; the Maoist party is positive towards the Nepal Army’s proposal on army integration; and the party has make peace and constitution its direction," he said.
Maintaining that maximum flexibility can be shown for army integration, Dahal said that the call to separate the Maoist party from its army and weapons now is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
At the same function, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel stressed for the implementation of the 10-point floated by his party and said that his party’s proposal is for national consensus.
Saying that the 10-point is for conclusion of peace process, end of violence and for democracy, he said that the NC is not tabling any new demand, but is demanding that the previous agreements be implemented.
Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav said 90 per cent work of the CA is over and the Maoist party and Congress will be responsible if both the parties will be serious at a time when peace process has also made progress.
At the programme, Shyam Shrestha, Damannath Dhungana and Renu Raj Bhandari of civil society urged leaders to apologise for their inability to promulgate the new constitution on time and called on them to seriously work for peace and constitution.