Nepal PM calls on opposition alliance for "substantial dialogue"

Making a public appeal on Sunday afternoon, Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala called on the opposition alliance for "substantial dialogue".

In his appeal issued by the Prime Minister's Office, the Nepalese prime minister stressed on the continuation of the ongoing constitution-drafting process.

Prime Minister Koirala said in the appeal "The partners of the people's movement in 2006 involved in the peace process should work together for forging consensus on national issues through substantial dialogue. Debated issues of the new constitution can be settled down only through meaningful talks. All parties in the CA should be serious on their obligations toward the people".

The prime minister reminded all the parties in the 601-member Constituent Assembly (CA) must be sincere toward their obligations of drafting the new statute.

"The protracted transition has further created uncertainty in achieving economic prosperity in the country," the prime minister said, adding responsible parties and persons of the country should take the country toward the path of economic development.

The appeal came at a time when the talks between the ruling and the opposition parties had been stalled for about three weeks following the brawl in the Nepal's CA on Jan. 20.

As the Himalayan country's parties missed the self-imposed deadline of Jan. 22 for promulgating the new constitution through the CA, the ruling and the opposition parties have not held even a group meeting in a bid to hammer out the common points of understanding over the disputed issues of the new constitution such as nomenclature and demarcation of federal provinces, system of governance, electoral system and judiciary.

Despite the strong objection from the 19-party opposition alliance which include the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties among others, the ruling parties, the Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), initiated the constitutional process of drafting the new constitution through two-third majority votes in the CA.

Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subhas Nembang had initiated the process of voting by forming a Questionnaire panel.

The Questionnaire Panel formed two weeks ago is preparing questions on contentious issues of the new constitution. The formulated questions will be put in vote in CA to settle them on the basis of numerical strength after the parties failed to settle them.

The United Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN Maoist) and Madhes- based parties have opposed the ruling parties' move, demanding scrapping the Questionnaire panel.

Earlier on Saturday while talking to reporters in Biratnagar, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal hinted that the opposition parties could joint the fresh round of talks with ruling parties on key issues of the new statute if the prime minister came up with the public appeal. Endi