KATHMANDU, Nov 22: Nepal Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala said on Sunday that he did not reach any deal with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Singapore for forming a new coalition. [break]
During his meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Sunday evening, the NC president said it is just a rumor that he reached a deal with Dahal for forming a new government, possibly led by the Maoists. "I also heard such rumors while in Singapore," the prime minister´s chief advisor Raghuji Pant quoted the NC president as telling the prime minister.
A day after his secret meeting with Koirala in Singapore, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had told journalists last Wednesday that the "unnatural coalition government" would collapse soon.
Koirala returned to Kathmandu at 12 p.m. Sunday after a nine-day-long treatment at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore. Prime Minister Nepal met the NC leader at the latter´s residence at Maharajgunj in the evening.
"A high-level political mechanism with representation of the Maoists among others, will be formed. Girijababu will take the initiative," Prime Minister Nepal said after the 45-minute-long meeting with Koirala.
Nepal said Koirala also "clarified about the Singapore talks" to him, but did not elaborate. The prime minister also said the ruling parties would move ahead unitedly and endorse the annual budget.
According to NC leader Krishna Sitaula, the NC president told the prime minister that the former had requested Dahal to let the budget pass and agree to forming a high-level political mechanism to complete the constitution-writing and peace processes. "Now I am happy that the Maoists are suspending House obstruction for passing the budget," Sitaula quoted Koirala as telling the prime minister.
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