National
PM calls on NC, Madhesis to join dialogue panel
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has requested the opposition parties to join the political committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa that was formed to address the demands of the Madhes-based parties to redraw the federal boundaries.Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has requested the opposition parties to join the political committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa that was formed to address the demands of the Madhes-based parties to redraw the federal boundaries.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, the PM said the dispute over demarcation should be addressed on the basis of the recommendations of the mechanism. Oli said any issues related to state delineation should be settled through dialogue and consensus among the parties.
Oli called on the parties to sit for open talks for building national consensus to speed up constitution implementation and the post-earthquake reconstruction. The Nepali Congress and the Madhes-based parties have already refused to be part of the mechanism led by DPM Thapa, which has not even taken its shape.
PM Oli’s address comes at a time when coalition partner UCPN (Maoist) has been considering withdrawing its support to the government.
Hinting at recent efforts by the opposition parties to topple the government, PM Oli said national consensus cannot be achieved through “conspiracy and deceit” but only with dialogue and consensus.
He said there had been conspiracies to topple the government but in vain. At a time when there is a talk of national unity government, the PM, who is the chairman of the CPN-UML, said the second largest party would not create any obstacles to the process.
“I appeal to the main opposition party to participate in an open and candid discussion about pushing the country ahead. We have to implement the constitution and speed up economic development and there is the need for unity among the parties,” the PM said.
About the dissatisfaction expressed by the UCPN (Maoist), the PM said all the shortcomings could be corrected through dialogue and consensus. The UCPN (Maoist) has expressed its dissatisfaction over the performance of the government. “I’m not against a national unity government. I’m ready to rethink if there have been any mistakes,” said the PM.
Amid rumours that the PM would dissolve Parliament if the Maoists withdrew their support, the PM made it clear that he wanted to resolve all the problems in Parliament. “I will not dissolve Parliament. I was elected from here and I’m ready to step down if the House wants it,” said Oli.
About forming a consensus government, Oli recalled the gentleman’s understanding reached before constitution promulgation for forming a UML-led government soon after adopting the statute.
Defending the government’s sluggish pace of reconstruction, and providing relief to earthquake survivors, the PM said there
was delay due to the conditions put forth by the donor agencies.
He claimed that there had been no corruption in the reconstruction fund and that the government had been providing money to the displaced people to build their homes.
The PM also spent a considerable amount of time explaining that there had been no human rights violation during the Tarai agitation. There is national and international pressure on the government to probe the human rights violation committed by the security agencies during the Madhes movement. “The government is ready to investigate if human rights have been breached in the Madhes.”
About criticisms of the new constitution, the PM said the charter was not passed in a hurry as claimed by the Madhes-based parties.
“We invested a lot of time in endorsing the clauses of the constitution. It was passed by an overwhelming majority,” said the PM, adding that the statute does not discriminate against anyone.
On ‘misunderstanding’ with India, he said it had been cleared. “If there are any problems, they will be resolved through diplomatic efforts.” He said the government wanted to have cordial relations with both of Nepal’s neighbours.