Nepal House extends hands to Maoists

KATHMANDU: Meeting for the first time in four years after King Gyanendra reinstated it, Nepal’s Parliament proposed a legislation to hold elections for a constituent assembly that  curtail powers of the monarch, a key demand of the Maoists, and a ceasefire with the rebels.

Prime Minister-designate Girija Prasad Koirala could not attend Parliament session due to ill health.

The first meeting of the newly reconstituted Nepali parliament convened on Friday. Significantly, it was CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, and Koirala who got a standing ovation as the House began.

Talking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport, Yechury said proper implementation of the 12-point pact between the seven political parties and the Maoists will help to resolve the problems the country is facing and to restore permanent peace in Nepal. Yechury is visiting Nepal on Koirala’s invitation.

Koirala was to have been administered the oath of office by Nepal’s King Gyanendra at 11 this morning. However, his ill-health was the reason behind the ceremony being postponed first to 6 pm this evening and later to Sunday morning. Koirala was also too ill to attend the first meeting of what would have been a historic session.

The first meet of the reinstated House of Representatives (HoR) that started at the Gallery Baithak of Parliament, was scheduled to start much earlier than it eventually did. The reinstated Parliament, Chitra Lekha Yadav, chaired the parliament meet as speaker Taranath Ranabhat resigned from his post on Wednesday. 

The 84-yr-old Koirala has been extremely ill for the past couple of days. He failed to attend the NC parliamentary committee meeting and the victory mass meet organised by the seven parties at Khulla Manch, Tundikhel following the tumultuous events of the last week.

Deputy Speaker Yadav read out a written message from Koirala that proposed the parliament vote for a constituent assembly “Implementing the seven parties’ roadmap and the 12-point understanding (with the Maoists) will be my first commitment,” Koirala said in the written message, “as per my commitment to go for a constituent assembly to resolve the problems facing the country, I have registered a proposal to hold constituent assembly elections at the Parliament today itself.”

“For this purpose, I also express commitment to hold immediate dialogue with the Maoists, declare a ceasefire, and ensure an environment free of fright and fear,” the proposal says.

Koirala’s proposal was supported by parliamentarians and CPN-UML leader, Madhav Kumar Nepal, former PM and NC (D) leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Lilamani Pokhrel, Narayanman Bijukchhe and Hridayesh Tripathi. However, no discussion could be held on Koirala’s proposal because of his absence.

The next meet of the reinstated parliament, to start on Sunday, will discuss Koirala’s proposal. Out of the total 205 members, only 202 MPs attended today’s meet. Most of the parliamentarians present in Friday’s meet were not in the national dress, which was mandatory in previous meetings of the parliament.