Dispute over home ministry persists

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: The meeting of the taskforce formed to settle power-sharing row in the new coalition ended inconclusively on Wednesday also after both the Maoists and the UML refused to budge from their stances.



Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma, who is also the member of the taskforce, informed that the meeting failed to yield results as both the parties staked claim to the home ministry. [break]



“We told the UML leaders that if they gave us the ministry of home, we can settle things in an hour. We also asked them to invite us for a meeting after they discuss the issue within their party. But we did not get the invitation,” said Sharma.



The leaders, however, said that they settled the disputes over the controversial seven-point deal signed between Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.



“We have already settled the dispute over the seven-point agreement from one angle as the prime minister has accepted that he made the agreement,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.



He said that the UML has invited the Maoists for talks at the prime minister´s official residence at Baluwatar Thursday morning to settle the row over the ministry of home.



The taskforce, however, agreed to allocate 19 ministries for the two major parties and seven for the small parties.



According to sources, the UML at the taskforce meeting had proposed to settle the issue of distribution of ministries over which they have no disputes, form a cabinet immediately, and leave the distribution of contentious ministries to be settled at a later date. But the meeting concluded inconclusively after the Maoists demanded vice-versa.



The Ministry of Home has been the bone of contention between the Maoists and the UML.



The ambiguous wording in the so-called secret seven point deal has led to the impasse over cabinet formation. “The sharing of important ministries, including home and defense, would be done in an appropriate and dignified manner,” the agreement states.



Citing the agreement, Maoists say they can´t make any compromise on home ministry, while the UML argues that the prime minister´s party should lead the ministerial portfolios that look after law and order situation in the country.

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