Nepal parties reject King's dialogue offer
In a setback to King Gyanendra's efforts to resolve political deadlock in Nepal, five major parties rejected his offer of dialogue saying no meaningful talks can be held until their demands are discussed.
In a setback to King Gyanendra's efforts to resolve political deadlock in Nepal, five major parties today rejected his offer of dialogue saying no meaningful talks can be held until their demands are discussed and decided to continue their anti-monarchy stir.
"Our attention has been drawn to the offer for talks by the King and we believe since the beginning that talks can lead to appropriate resolution of the issues raised by the peaceful movement," the leaders of the five parties, including Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and Nepal Communist Party UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, said in a joint statement after a meeting.
"Meaningful conclusion can only be reached if the issues raised by the movement can be put on the agenda for talks," said the statement by the agitating parties, who continued their protests in Kathmandu and other parts of the Kingdom for the 23rd day today demanding an all party government and dissolution of the present King-installed government.
The King had started political consultations to resolve the stalemate and met former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba, Rastriya Prajatantra Party President Pashupati Shumsher Rana and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Mandal) president Badri Prasad Mandal at the Narayanhity Royal Palace yesterday, according to the National News Agency.
Thus, for holding talks it is essential to set clear cut agenda based on the issues raised by the movement and to create an appropriate environment, the statement said, adding the protests and public disobedience programmes against the royal take over will continue throughout the country.
The five parties have also decided to organise special programmes on May 3 to observe it as the day for declaration of joint movement. The pro-democracy agitations were kicked off on the same day last year.
Janamorcha Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Nepal Sadbhvana Party (Anandidevi) were among the parties present at today's meeting.
Meanwhile, all educational institutions across the country remained closed today in response to the strike called by the student organisations affiliated to the five political parties.
The students have called strike demanding release of all the student activists detained by the police during the ongoing agitation.