CONSTITUTION DISCUSSION OBSTRUCTED

THREE PARTY MEET TO ACTIVATE MAIN CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMTTEE INCONCLUSIVE

Kathmandu, 1 May: A meeting of the Big Three-Maoists, NC and UML—to activate the main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya to complete an integrated draft of a constitution by the 28 May deadline was inconclusive Sunday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda suggested activating the committee to prepare an integrated draft as Maoists admitted a complete basis can’t be promulgated by the 28 May deadline.
The main committee had empowered a sub-committee under it headed it by Chairman Prachanda to resolve differences on articles to be incorporated in a basic law.
The Maoist chief backed out of the sub-committee saying he was busy without resolving all differences.
NC in an earlier meeting of three parties demanded Madeshbadi and smaller parties should also be invited in preparing a basic law draft.
Meanwhile, federalism has become a burden for the Big Three, newly elected Rashtiriya Janamorcha Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC said Sunday.
Federalism was the main agenda of seven parliamentary parties and Maoistsin a 12-point New Delhi accord.
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CONTOVERSY BREAKS OUT IN JOURNLIST BODY

Kathmandu, 1 May: The final list of candidates for the election of the chief of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists couldn’t
be published Sunday.
Five candidates supported mostly by political parties, was to be scrutinized and published for the two-day meet of the Federation beginning 3 May in the capital.
Rival groups padlocked or attempted to break pen locks at the Federation’s office at Sanchar Gram in Shinamangal in the capital.
One group demanded election in Kaski where representatives were chosen without a vote, a group charged.
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