Maoists: No talks with govt, ruling parties, CA chair

26 Jan 2015, Kathmandu - The UCPN (Maoist)-led 19-party alliance has decided not to sit for talks with the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML until an environment conducive to consensus is created.

The alliance, however, has clarified that

it remainsfirm on promulgating a “progressive” constitution from the Constituent Assembly. But it has threatened to boycott the Questionnaire Committee.

“We will stay away from talks until Sunday’s move is corrected, and until there is assurance that there will be a constitution through consensus,” Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told a news conference on Sunday.

He said they would “go to the public” with their issues. The alliance has decided to hold protest programmes in several parts of the country against Nembang’s move. The blocinterprets that the CA process had polarised the parties further.

Emerging from the CA meeting, Dahal called Nembang the “spokesman” of the ruling parties. He said the decision to form the committee would divide not only the CA but the entire society.

The alliance maintained that Sunday’s move would only deepen the political crisis. “It has created a crisis of confidence among the stakeholders of the 12-point agreement,” the agitating alliance said in a statement.

The alliance argued that the decision would widen the rift among the parties, make the CA redundant and reignite conflict in the country. The agitating parties said the decision “undermines the spirit of the 12-point agreement, comprehensive peace accord, Jana Andolan, Madhes Movement and leads the country towards regression”.

Dahal charged Nembang with partisan role. “When we commanded two-thirds majority, he did not bother to call a meeting despite our request. This time around, the process went ahead three years before the CA tenure ends,” he said.

The bloc had on Saturday asked Nembang for 10 days to hold discussion among the parties to thrash out contentious issues.