At a meeting with top leaders of the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML at his residence, the president also expressed concerns over the constitution-drafting and peace processes. [break]
The meeting was held at the initiatives of civil society leaders Daman Nath Dhungana and Padma Ratna Tuladhar. The president had hosted a dinner for the leaders.
The three-hour meeting started at 6 pm and was attended by NC Acting President Sushil Koirala, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, and civil society leaders Dhungana and Tuladhar.
Talking to myrepublica.com on the phone, Dhungana said the meeting was organized keeping in view the changed political context following the demise of NC President Girija Koirala and widening of differences among the major political parties.
He said that the meeting was aimed at discussing how could the parties end the transition at the earliest and assure people that they would be able to draft the new constitution on time.
"We feel that the meeting will help create an environment for forging consensus," Daman Nath Dhungana
Civil society leader
Civil society leader
According to Dhungana, the president told the parties to move ahead through consensus to resolve the differences.
The president stressed the need to ensure implementation of all agreements reached among the parties in the past. "We feel that the meeting will help create an environment for forging consensus," said Dhungana.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Tuladhar said the president told the three leaders to move ahead in accordance with spirit of interim constitution and fully implement the agreements reached among the parties in the past.
Tuladhar added that NC and UML leaders said at the meeting that their cadres are still unable to return to their homes as the Maoist cadres continue to occupy their land and houses. According to Tuladhar, the Maoist Chairman told that his party was serious over the issue and will take appropriate measures to address the concerns.
Earlier in the afternoon, the president had a meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
According to the prime minister, the president said he was shocked to learn that the remarks he made recently in Syangja and Janakpur were distorted. The president also said he is committed to remaining within the bounds of the constitution, according to the prime minister.
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