Speaker urges immediate agreement

Kathmandu, Nov 14: Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang has urged the major political parties to forge immediate consensus on the constitution's contentious issues.

In a meeting at his office on Friday, Nembang appealed to the senior leaders from Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) to reach an agreement to issue the much-awaited constitution by 22 January.

Speaking to media later, Nembang said he had called on the senior leaders to leave aside their individual and party's interest for sake of giving the country an outlet at a time when none of the contentious issues have been resolved at the Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee meetings.

Recounting the parties repeated pledges for timely agreement, Speaker Nembang said, "Agreement can be reached if the parties think with a cool head by keeping the country and the people at the center and hold discussion on the disputed issues, I have related to them this very essence."

Nembang said he had asked the senior leaders to focus on their commitment made before the people while warning that constitution may not be issued on the stipulated date without an agreement at the earliest. "They should focus on searching the point for an agreement not their respective stands, I have drawn their attention to resolve the disputed issues by postponing other programmes," Nembang asserted.

Furthermore, Nembang said the parties should only remember their pledge to the people to turn distrust into confidence and disagreement into agreement.

The parties are at a seemingly inextricable deadlock despite repeated meetings that have ended inconclusively.

Speaker Nembang had met with NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madheis Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and CPN (UML) second rung leaders. RSS