Nepal parties agree to end deadlock

In a last ditch attempt at forging a consensus ahead of the indefinite strike called by Maoists, the three major political parties of Nepal agreed on Wednesday to step up efforts to end the present deadlock, reports Utpal Parashar.

Updated on: Apr 29, 2010, 01:03:33 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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In a last ditch attempt at forging a consensus ahead of the indefinite strike called by Maoists, the three major political parties of Nepal agreed on Wednesday to step up efforts to end the present deadlock.

In a ‘decisive debate’ televised by all TV channels and radio networks, the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) and UCPN (Maoist), the main opposition party, agreed to find a solution within the next two days.

“We request all parties to reach a consensus on all the key issues and the government to make way for such agreement within April 30 so that we can call off our demonstration and indefinite strike,” said UCPN (M) chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

Nepal’s main opposition party is planning to stage a massive demonstration in Kathmandu on May 1 and launch an indefinite strike across the nation from May 2 in order to remove the government and ensure that the peace and constitution drafting processes gets completed within the May 28 deadline.

“We are ready to step down from government and make way for a national unity government if a package deal addressing all issues is reached and the Maoists call off their strike,” said CPN (UML) chief Jhalanath Khanal.

Nepali Congress stated that it is the responsibility of the Maoists to create a conducive atmosphere so that the “crisis of confidence” among the political parties gets over.

“We resolve to address all issues through talks and consensus if the Maoists call off the strike,” said Sushil Koirala, acting president of the party.

The three-hour-long debate organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry also witnessed leaders of the three parties airing their views on several key issues including integration of the former Maoist rebels in Nepal Army and power-sharing.

Despite differences, the leaders agreed that all key issues can be resolved through consensus and the peace and constitution drafting process completed within the May 28 deadline.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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