UML, Maoists close to end ongoing political deadlock

Kathmandu, June 10 (ANI): The new CPN (UML) coalition and the CPN (Maoist) have agreed to find a way out of the current political impasse' by adopting a 'middle path' acceptable to all major political forces.

The Maoists, who have been obstructing the House and launching agitation on the streets demanding the correction of the 'unconstitutional move' taken by President Ram Baran Yadav on Army Chief Rookangud Katawal's issue, have agreed to allow normal proceedings of the House if Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal addresses the concerns raised by the Maoists before the legislature.

The Maoists have agreed to allow normal proceedings of the House if Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal addresses the concerns raised by the Maoists before the parliament.

During the meeting of the UML and the Maoist top brass held here on Tuesday, the Maoists asked UML not to take action against econd-in-command of Nepali Army Kul Bahadur Khadka, but appoint him in a respectable position after his term ends on June 20 and send incumbent chief of Army Staff Rookangud Katawal on leave and appoint Lt General Chhatra Mansingh Gurung as the acting army chief from the same date.

The Maoists also asked the Prime Minster to term the President's move as 'unconstitutional' in his address to the parliament.

In response, Madhav Kumar has instructed the army headquarters not to initiate process to take action against Khadka. Defense Minister Bidhya Devi Bhandari has instructed General Katawal not to set up the court of inquiry against Khadka as planned by the army headquarter.

According to Nepalnews, the two parties had already agreed on the terms but had decided not to announce it before June 20. UML would try to gain consensus of all parties to enforce the decisions by the mentioned date, and if it fails to do so, UML and Maoists would take a decision on their own.

UML and the Maoists also discussed the ongoing conflict between the cadres of their sister organisations in various places across the country and stressed on the need to end it immediately. (ANI)