Big 3 agree on joint resolution motion

Kathmandu, September 17 - UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on Wednesday agreed in principle to prepare a joint resolution motion to end the parliamentary deadlock by addressing the Maoist demand for civilian supremacy. The meeting, initiated by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at his office, decided to engage in bilateral and multilateral consultations between and among the three big parties to finalise the contents and nature of the motion to be tabled at the Legislature-Parliament. “We also decided to amend laws and the constitution if need be,” said Bhim Acharya, chief whip of the CPN-UML. Prime Minister Nepal expressed optimism that consultations in the coming days would forge consensus on the divisive issue before he heads off to New York to attend the 64th UN General Assembly on Sept. 20 as head of a 23-member delegation.NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said while there would be options left open for the Maoists, there would be no consensus on any no-confidence motion against the UML-led government and impeachment motion against the president. “A common and consensual motion is just coming as an option after the Maoists rejected the other two alternatives,” Mahat said. Senior leaders including Prime Minister Nepal, Raghuji Panta, Bishnu Poudel, Bharat Mohan Adhikari and Ishwor Pokhrel were present from the UML. Prakashman Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Bimalendra Nidhi and Ram Sharan Mahat represented the NC, while Baburam Bhattarai, Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Dev Gurung attended the meeting from the UCPN (Maoist). “If the prime minister is able to forge consensus to finalise the content of the consensual motion as per the demands of other political parties within a couple of days, we will be able to end the deadlock,” Acharya said. The prime minister told the meeting that he would take the lead to organise a meeting to find a common ground within a couple of days. “This is a positive development and a possible ice-breaker for all,” said UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari after the meeting. During negotiations, differences are likely to surface on issues concerning the nature of the motion, language and ways to address the Maoists’ agendas. “That is why we decided to buy some more time instead of trying to fix things in haste,” said Acharya.