Talks possible if NC, UML give up arrogance: Bhattarai

11 FEB 2015, Mahendranagar - Former Prime Minister and UCPN (Maoist) leader Baburam Bhattarai has remarked that dialogues could be held to end the current political deadlock if the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML come up with a clear position. He added that the ruling parties should give assurance that the new constitution would be drafted according toconsensus among major four parties that signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

“Prime Minister Koirala did not give his concretestatement,” said leader Bhattarai,

speaking at a press meet organised by revolutionary journalists. “Talks could resume if the leadership of NC and UML came up with a clear statement by giving up their arrogance.”

He claimed that the ruling party leaders are under the influence of “some invisible power” because of which the agreement is becoming elusive. He went on to say that the nation will plunge into a grave crisis if the voting process could not be stopped to write the constitution through consensus.

Leader Bhattarai reiterated that the Questionnaire Committee, formed to settle the contentious issues of constitution drafting, should bedissolved. He further said that the NC and UML should not forget the truth that the constitution can only be drafted through consensus and understanding among the parties that launched the second people’s movement.

 “Certain people inside the ruling parties are preventing agreement in a prejudicial manner for their vested interests,” said Bhattarai, “That kind of people involved in anti-consensus campaign should be punished from inside the party.”

Noting that Nepal’s politics has arrived at a critical juncture at the moment, leader Bhattarai stressed on the need to forge consensus among at least the major four political forces—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhes-based parties—that were parties to the CPA.