The president took the initiative to help forge consensus among political parties as he saw division among parties widening in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, according to a source at the President´s Office. The ruling parties have been blaming each other for the demise of the Constituent Assembly. [break]
"I urge you all to show highest level of wisdom and consensus, and remind you that there is no alternative to showing goodwill and forging consensus," the president told the leaders, "I expect you to take immediate initiative to find solution to the stalled political process."
The president had read out a one-page speech before the leaders and spoke extempore at the end of the meeting, according to CPN (ML) leader CP Mainali. The leaders were not allowed to put across their opinion at the meeting over tea.
The president called the meeting of the political parties after a series consultations with people from different walks of life following the expiry of the CA.
The president also urged political parties to complete the remaining tasks of the peace process and constitution-making in a democratic manner and by respecting rule of law and asked them to remain united to preserve the achievements made after the April movement of 2006.
The president also warned the political leaders that the people would not forgive them if the remaining tasks of constitution making are not completed. He also told the parties that heaping blame on each other for the demise of the CA would only spread bitterness and pessimism in society besides weakening the norms and values of the state and state mechanisms.
The president also said good governance has suffered a lot due to the unexpectedly prolonged transition. So has been preservation of the natural resources and maintaining fiscal discipline, the president told the leaders.
Commenting for the first time on the dissolution of the CA, the president said, "The failure to draft a new constitution is a matter of national pain and shame."
Emerging out of the meeting, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told the media that he took the president´s initiative for consensus as "appropriate." "We have to forge consensus sooner or later," Dahal said.
Mainali said that he took the president´s initiative as something done out of sense of urgency amidst increasing distance among the political parties.
Related story
NC President Deuba calls for consensus culture
