Parties likely to seal deal on autonomy today

Leaders of the three major parties — the CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML — said today they would be able to come up with a common stance on the issues of federal autonomy and inclusive participation of the left-out communities in the Nepal Army by tomorrow.The NC today came ... with a revised proposal on federal autonomy and participation of the left-out communities in the Nepal Army. According to the NC’s revised proposal, Himali, Pahadi and Madhesis’ aspirations for autonomous states should be respected.The NC has also agreed not to have the phrase “groups-wise” entry of the Madhesi community into the Nepal Army in the Fifth Amendment Bill, according to NC vice-president and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel.“The phrase group-wise entry into the NA will not be inserted in the supplementary Fifth Amendment Bill designed to amend the interim constitution,” Poudel told mediapersons at the end of today’s meeting. Maoist leader Dev Gurung said they had reached an understanding with the NC on the issue of giving autonomy to ethnic communities, people of backward regions, including the Madhesis, and on the use of word “Madhes” in the Fifth Amendment Bill.“There are some issues that are yet to be sorted out,” Gurung said, adding that they could not finalise the draft proposal on the issue, as the NC sought more time for internal consultation. UML general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal said they would finalise a common draft proposal tomorrow addressing aspirations of all the agitating parties and communities (Limbuwan, Khambuwan, Chure Bhavar and the people of backward regions) for federal autonomous states.“Federal units will be created keeping in mind the aspirations of all communities for autonomous states and agreements reached with these communities. The CA will decide on the number of autonomous states. But we will not accept the concept of single autonomy for entire Madhes,” Khanal said. Poudel said they would hold talks with the Madhes-based parties once they reached a common understanding on the autonomy.

• Prachanda says his first `political visit` will be to India
• Nepal's apex court to pronounce verdict in Sobhraj case today
• After China, Prachanda to visit US?
• Transporters urge FM to mediate Nepali vehicles to ply Indian soil
• Maoist flak closes radio program
• Two found dead in Riukhola in Chitwan
• Babban Singh says Maoists, gov responsible for Koshi disaster
• NC criticises gov for failure in relief to Koshi-hit

Add to: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tag It| | |