According to UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari, a member of political committee formed by the party to resolve House deadlock, the parties also discussed amendment to the interim constitution to address ´inconsistencies,´ if any, over the president´s power relating to the army.
Adhikari said they have decided to hold three-party meeting on Saturday to strike a deal over the Maoist demands. “We have almost arrived at a consensus over the Maoist demand,” he claimed.
Adhikari said that since none of three parties differ on the issue of ´civil supremacy´, they have agreed to be flexible over their respective stances held so far over president´s move to reinstate the then army chief. Earlier, leaders of the three parties had announced to hold further discussion over the Maoist demand after Dashain.
However, the leaders´ readiness to sit for dialogues even during festivities indicate that they want to leave no stone unturned to avoid a constitutional crisis.
The budget unveiled for the fiscal year 2009/10 must be endorsed by the House by October 7. Moreover, the prolonged House obstruction and street protests of the Maoists has also hampered the constitution drafting process and other regular activities of the government.
UML leader Adhikari, Keshav Badal, Parshu Ram Negi Gurung had held a meeting with the Maoist leaders Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Krishna Bahadur Mahara at UML´s headquarters in Balkhu Friday morning. The Maoist leaders had asked UML leadership to address the issue of ´civil supremacy´ in one way or the other.
The UML leaders had then met NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel and the party´s general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi in the afternoon. NC leaders had also held a separate meeting with the Maoists leadership in the evening. “The talks ended on a positive note,” said Poudel. “We are sitting for talks with the UML on Saturday.” Poudel, however, said that the three party meeting would be held after Vijaya Dashami that falls on Monday.
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