Kathmandu, Feb 17: Chairman of Constituent Assembly (CA) Subas Nembang on Monday hinted at resumption of the CA business if the ruling and opposite parties remain at loggerheads and show no sign of progress in talks.
Reminding political leaders the CA meeting had been postponed indefinitely to facilitate talks, Nembang expressed his dissatisfaction over the political leaders reluctance to make headway in talks. Meeting the chief whips of two opposition parties on Monday for the first time after the CA formed the Questionnaire Committee on January 25, Nembang made this statement. He met UCPN (Maoist) Chief Whip Giriraj Mani Pokhrel and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik Chief Whip Ram Janam Chaudhary, urging them to sit for talks without further delay.
While the ruling and agitating parties are hell bent on sticking to their positions, Nembang plans to bring both sides to the negotiating table. Expressing his belief that the opposition parties will join a dialogue convened by him, Nembang conveyed this message to the top leaders of the two parties through their chief whips.
It is learnt that the both Pokhrel and Chaudhary are planning to consult with their respective party chiefs about breaking the impasse.
Nembang also made it clear that providing additional time for consensus is possible if the parties sit down for talks and demonstrate flexibility to break the impasse.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders have reiterated they will not sit for talks until Prime Minister Sushil Koirala comes up with another statement committing to the consensual constitution.
Sticking to their previous stance, the agitating parties have announced that there is no immediate possibility of talks with the CA chairman as they are miffed at Nembang after he announced the formation of the Questionnaire Committee “unilaterally”.
Accusing Nembang of acting as the spokesman of his party, the opposition leaders have become highly critical of him.
With mounting pressure on both sides to resume talks, it can be anticipated that they will at least start meeting with each other to break the current deadlock.
