“I am moving ahead with a proper plan in hand to extend the CA term. We will prepare a calendar (of events to implement the peace agreement) after holding talks with the political parties,” said Khanal while speaking at a function in Sunsari.[break]
The government is also all set to come up with a concrete proposal on integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants. “We will come up with a new proposal to conclude the peace process and constitution drafting,” he said.
The prime minister claimed that the political parties have differences only on the system of governance, electoral system and state restructuring.
“The parties are close to consensus on system of governance. And although the parties are likely to reach an agreement on the electoral system, there is no possibility of reaching consensus on state restructuring,” he said.
Arguing that the country is mired in “ultra-leftist and rightist political tendencies”, Khanal criticized his party leaders for bashing each other in the public instead of waging a struggle to defeat both tendencies.
“One should not blabber whatever comes to their minds. The party must move ahead as per the ideological line passed by the party´s general convention,” he said. It may be recalled that Khanal has been criticized by the rival factions within his party for awarding the home ministry to the Maoists.
Khanal said it is not enough just to achieve the goal of peace and constitution and argued that the party must uproot “feudalism” from the country.
Khanal greeted with black flag, one held
Meanwhile, a group of party cadres greeted Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal with black flags at Sunsari district headquarters Inaruwa. Police nabbed one Sarada Niraula for waving a flag at the prime minister. Police also beat her up. Niraula had distributed pamphlets prior to waving a black flag, calling for unity of the party.
Police had beefed up security in the area. The UML had mobilized volunteers to prevent any untoward incident. Few months back, one Debi Prasad Regmi had slapped Khanal in the same district, accusing her of bickering for power and neglecting the task of writing the new constitution and concluding the peace process.
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