PM Prachanda , Jhalanath Khanal hold discussions amid rising differences

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: PM Prachanda and CPN-UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal Saturday held discussions amid exchange of mutual charges and CPN-UML threat to opt out of government.
The prime minister asked political parties not to engage in what he called a conspiracy to topple the Maoist-led government at a public function at Lekhnath, Kaski.
Before the meeting, Khanal told a meeting in Lalitpur Saturday CPN-UML won’t ‘carry Maoists’ on its shoulders if it doesn’t improve its mannerisms.
The government won’t fall under any circumstance, the government chief said.
He also called for a new ‘high-level’ political understanding between parties to draft a constitution and complete the peace process; the 12-point peace agreement was inadequate for it for an environment of trust, Prachanda said.
A the same time, top Maoist leader Mohan Baidya Kiran accused of ‘national and international forces’ for cornering Maoists from all sides to oust it from government.
Meanwhile, there was no unanimous agreement Saturday between major parties, including main opposition Nepali Congress, to divide leadership of 14 CA committees for drafting a constitution and 10 parliamentary committees.
CPN (Maoist) and Nepali Congress held direct talks.
Work on drafting a constitution has already been delayed amid UN concerns.
Elections for committees have been deferred three times.
A scheduled meeting of the CA couldn’t be held until late evening Saturday following failure to reach a unanimous agreement on leadership of 24 CA committees.
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