Miscellaneous
Take agitating parties on board: Prez to Oli
President Ram Baran Yadav has asked CPN-UML, the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly, to engage the opposition in the constitution drafting process.The call from the head of state comes a day after the parties traded barbs against each other following the formation of the Questionnaire Committee. According to President’s Press Adviser Rajendra Dahal, Yadav urged the UML leadership to ensure an environment where none of the political actors feels excluded.
In his meeting with top UML leaders, including Chairman KP Sharma Oli, on Monday, Yadav also cautioned against the politics of confrontation. “If confrontation between the parties prevails, it will make the possibility of constitution promulgation remote,” Dahal quoted the President as saying.
Along with Oli, UML Vice-chairperson Bidhya Bhandari and General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel attended the meeting. The UML team was scheduled to meet the President on Sunday but the meeting did not take place as the leaders were busy in the CA.
The President has been prodding the parties to forge consensus, a point he has made also with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and CA Chairman Subas Nembang. President Yadav has already asked the UCPN (Maoist) leadership to stay on the CA course.
On Sunday morning, President Yadav asked Dahal and Bhattarai not to opt for street agitation and engage in constitution drafting. Maoist leaders had told the President that a week should be given for consensus effort, instead of making the Questionnaire Committee active.
Worried that the voting process could derail the constitution drafting process, President Yadav had a telephone talk with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and CA chairman Subas Nembang on Sunday, said a Sheetal Niwas source.
Oppn to stay in CA process
The agitating parties on Monday decided not to participate in the majority process of constitution writing but to remain engaged in the overall Constituent Assembly process.
A meeting of the 30-party alliance, however, stressed that their priority is street agitation, not the CA process. The bloc said it would not attend the meeting of the Questionnaire Committee formed by CA Chairman Subas Nembang to prepare for voting in the Assembly on the disputed agendas.
The disgruntled parties have announced protest programmes in three phases. The first phase which begins on Tuesday will go till February 28. The second phase will conclude on March 29 while the “decisive” movement would begin on March 30. The protest programmes include mass meetings and picketing of government offices.
On Sunday, the parties organised a symbolic protest against the CA chairman and burnt his effigies in various places.
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav, informing about the meeting, charged the ruling parties with sidelining the opposition. Yadav said the ruling parties had breached past pacts and agreements by initiating the majority process in the CA.