Maoists meet NC

The talks held between the UCPN (Maoist) and the Nepali Congress today ended inconclusively.

During the talks, the Maoist side proposed that the number of combatants to be integrated and the rehabilitation package should be decided first to be followed by the regrouping but were of the view that the entire issue should be dealt with together in a package, said central member of Nepali Congress, Ram Sharan Mahat.

Talking to reporters following the meeting, Mahat said the Nepali Congress was of the view that deciding only the number and rehabilitation package without finalizing the modality of integration and rank harmonization was not acceptable.

At the meeting, the Maoists also proposed to begin the regrouping of the combatants prior to the Prime Minister trip to New York on 19 September.

An agreement was however reached to continue deliberations between the two parties and accordingly Maoist Chairman and Congress President will be meeting tomorrow.

The Maoist side at the meeting was represented by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Vice-chairman and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai while the NC was represented by Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel, General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitoula and other leaders.