Maoists say they are ready to hold separate talks with the ruling parties over passage of the budget on condition that the latter continues to hold talks to address their demand concerning “civilian supremacy”. The Maoists, however, claim that the government has not taken any initiatives in this regard.
“The government has not taken any initiative even though the party chairman (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) stated in Birgunj a couple of days ago that Maoists are ready to hold separate talks over the budget with the government,” said Maoist Standing Committee member Barsa Man Pun, adding “We are ready to resume the House on condition that the ruling parties demonstrate their willingness to address the Maoist demands and continue talks.” He alleged the government of conspiring to endorse the budget through other channels.
But the ruling parties have accused the Maoists of taking a rigid stance on their demand, and pushing the country toward crisis by obstructing passage of the budget. “They don´t even bother to come to Baluwatar (prime ministers´ official residence) for talks,” claimed Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel. This is why the talks between the ruling and the main opposition party leaders are taking place at various other places, said Pokharel. Stating that the government is serious about the budget, he said, “That´s why Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is holding talks with Maoist Vice Chair Narayankaji Shrestha.”
The parliament has passed a vote on account bill allowing the government to spend only one third of the total budget. The parliamentarians also could not draw their salaries for lack of money.
Meanwhile, the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers have borrowed Rs 2.6 million from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works to pay the salaries to its staff. As per the existing financial regulations, 10 percent of the budget earmarked to a ministry under recurrent expenditure can be lent to other ministries. The monthly pay to civil servants will also be adversely affected from this month due to stalemate over the budget.
NC, UML leaders hold talks
The NC and UML leaders held talks at UML leader KP Sharma Oli´s House in Bhaktapur on Sunday evening to discuss ways to endorse the budget. NC leaders Ram Chandra Poudel and Ram Sharan Mahat and UML leaders Oli, Bishnu Poudel, and Minister for Defense Bidya Bhandari attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the leaders decided to step up parleys with the Maoists from Monday. “We have decided to intensify talks with the Maoists to end the deadlock and build an atmosphere of trust,” said NC leader Poudel. The leaders also reached a conclusion to work on the proposed joint resolution motion to end the deadlock.
Landgren meets Dahal
Meanwhile, chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Karin Landgren met Maoist Chairman Dahal at the latter´s residence in Naya Bazar in Kathmandu and discussed contemporary political scenario in the country.
The talks focused on the peace process, discharge process of disqualified personnel and continued house obstruction. According to sources, Dahal had told the UNMIN chief that his party was positive toward letting the House resume to pass the annual budget.
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