During a Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at the party´s headquarters, leaders argued that the three major parties should provide clear outline of the calendar of events in order to convince people that they will not miss the deadline of promulgating new constitution yet again. [break]
"We need to tell people the progress we have made and express commitment to draft the constitution within the extended time," said a CWC member.
Most NC leaders argued that fresh election was not feasible in the present context and suggested for extending the term of CA that expires on May 28. The meeting, however, has not yet come to a conclusion whether to extend the CA term by six months or by a year.
According to party leader Narahari Acharya, the leaders stressed on the need to put maximum efforts to bring out draft constitution by May 28. Majority of the leaders speaking on Wednesday´s meeting argued that it is too early to think about extending the CA´s term. "But nothing specific was discussed about white paper," he said.
Talking to media after the meeting, Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel said the meeting largely dwelt on the issues of Maoist drive for extortion and military training in various parts of the country.
"The meeting concluded that the training will only push the country toward conflicts," he said. The meeting denounced such activities saying that they will only derail the peace process.
"The way Maoists are training people in the name of preparing for war has affected law and order situation in the country," he said.
Poudel said the meeting directed the party leadership to hold serious talks with the Maoists on these issues. NC is set to raise the issue of concluding peace process before the promulgation of new constitution with the Maoists before taking any decision to extend the term of the CA.
During the meeting, CWC members suggested the party leadership not to raise the issue of government change at the moment as just 37 days are left to promulgate new constitution. They argued that constitution drafting was still possible if the Maoists give up stubbornness.
The meeting will resume Thursday and is expected to take a decision on extending the CA tenure.
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