The leaders vowed to forge consensus through a ´package deal´ by Saturday -- a day before the start of the Maoists´ nationwide indefinite strike.[break]
NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel told media persons after the late evening meeting that they held detailed discussions on current political situation and the Maoist strike besides the six-point agenda they sorted out for discussion in the past. "We have reached near to consensus on all the issues," he said. "We will sit again tomorrow."
Among other things, the six-point agenda includes management of Maoist combatants, power sharing and constitution drafting. Leaders said the issue of Maoists protests, their indefinite general strike and extension of tenure of the CA that expires on May 28 were additional agenda of discussion in Friday´s meeting.
During the meeting held at Hotel Radisson, the Maoists reiterated their demand for government change. However, the NC and UML insisted that they should first reach a package deal on all issues related to peace process, constitution drafting and power sharing.
UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said the parties held serious discussions on all issues. He said the three parties have agreed to resolve the issues through dialogues by Saturday.
Maoist leaders Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya; NC leaders Poudel, Bimalendra Nidhi and Krishna Sitaula and UML leaders Khanal, Ishwar Pokharel and Bharat Mohan Adhikari attended the meeting.
The NC and UML had held their Central Working Committee and politburo meetings, respectively, after holding first round of talks with the Maoists in the afternoon. The three party leaders sat again for talks at 8pm. The evening talks lasted three hours.
In the meeting, the NC and UML asked Maoists to withdraw their protests. However, the Maoists said they would continue with their protests until an agreement is forged.
NC, UML decide not to give in to Maoist pressure
The politburo meeting of the CPN-UML decided not to bow to UCPN (Maoist) pressure from the streets. The UML meeting came up with the conclusion that the prime minister´s resignation alone can´t be the solution to the present political deadlock.
The party urged the Maoists to call off the general strike without any condition and seek a solution through dialogue.
"We decided to stand firmly by our position to seek a solution in a package. Change of guard can be one of the agenda items in the package. And it can only be possible through a legitimate way, not owing to Maoist illegitimate pressure," UML Spokesperson Pradip Gyawali said, briefing reporters after the politburo meeting.
In the package, the NC and the UML have argued that they can accept Maoist leadership in the government only after the Maoist party turns into a civilian party.
Though Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal is not a politburo member, he was invited to the meeting. He briefed it on the security situation and the government plan to tackle possible developments.
After that, the meeting suggested that the government instruct the security agencies to exercise restraint as long as the demonstrations are peaceful and to take every security measure to maintain law and order.
"Government should ensure the right to stage peaceful demonstrations but it has to make sure that innocent people do not fall prey to violent activities if the agitators turn violent," Gyawali said.
Meanwhile, NC Central Working Committee meeting also decided that the prime minister should not step down due to threats and street protests by the Maoists.
The NC said the Maoists should either come to a consensus or follow the constitutional method to meet their demand for government change.
The meeting decided to ask the government to act firmly to ensure effective law and order. According to NC Spokesperson Arjun Narsing KC, the meeting asked the government to clear out government and public buildings captured by the Maoists to shelter cadres brought in from various parts of the country.
The NC and UML are for Nepal to step down after a national consensus is forged while the Maoists have demanded that the prime minister first step down to pave the way for national consensus.
According to Gyawali, Maoist Chairman Dahal claimed that the Maoist party would not call off its protests even after the prime minister´s resignation. He said Maoist cadres would return from the streets only after ensuring a national consensus in favor of a UCPN (Maoist)-led government.
PM may address nation
The UML politburo meeting suggested that the prime minister address the nation so as to make clear the executive head´s views on the present political crisis. "As confusion and terror reign among the people, the meeting suggested the prime minister address the nation, making his views clear in front of the people," Gyawali said.
He said the prime minister would do so at an appropriate time. The prime minister´s press advisor Bishnu Rijal said, "Most probably the prime minister will do so on Saturday."
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