PM SAYS ROYAL ELEMENTS ATTEMPTING TO DERAIL PEACE

PM SAYS ROYAL ELEMENTS TRYING TO DERAIL PEACE

Kathmandu, 3 March:
Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Friday said that the political parties would reach a consensus to conclude the peace and constitution drafting processes within 13 March, Baburam Devkota reports in The Rising Nepal from Sndhuli.
Inaugurating the 17th council meeting of District Development Committee in Sindhulimadi, Dr. Bhattarai said that the parties were intensifying dialogues to resolve the disputed issues of peace and constitution.
He said, "The supporters of monarchy were trying to derail the peace and statute writing processes. The government will face up to such activities against peace and constitution and all parties should be serious and unite to conclude the national tasks."
He said that peace, constitution, good governance and economic development were the goals of the government and added, "The peace and constitution are the first priority for the government."
He stressed that the government would never accept any kind of corruption under political protection and said that the people would understand that the decisions of the courts against corruption were also the works of the government.
He said, "Treatment to the disease of corruption disease is essential to establish good governance."
Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said that the government had started a dialogue to reach consensus among the parties to form the local level institutions of the government.
He said that the government would start the process of closing the vacant cantonments within a few days and added that the peace process would be concluded soon.
He stressed that utilization of water resources for a modern agricultural system was essential for economic revolution and said, "The water, land and forest resources should help to promote the national economy."
He said that the government had no role in helping reduce the price of petroleum products and clarified that the price hike was a result of fluctuations in the international markets.
He said that Sindhuli district had a historical importance and the government was serious to develop the district. He said that the district should be developed as a historical tourism area.
On the occasion, Local Development Officer Ganesh Gyawali presented the annual budget of the Local Development Office of Sindhuli.
Meanwhile, our Rautahat correspondent Yadav Raj Puri reported that Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai asked the people to keep an eye on those who were trying to put the federal states in a republic under the shadow.
He said that federalism was the major gain of the Madesh revolution and the decade-long civil war.
The Prime Minister was addressing a function to inaugurate a building of Gaur municipality of Rautahat after inaugurating a suspension bridge there.
"Political parties still have disputes over the model of federalism. However, a model of federalism on the basis of identity and capacity has already been approved by the Constituent Assembly," Bhattarai said.
Reiterating that the government was committed to promulgating the new constitution including federalism, the Prime Minister said there was no alternative to promulgating the new constitution by May 27.
He expressed his confidence about concluding the ongoing peace process within the month of Falgun as cantonments were being vacated soon.
The government was stressing the peace process, constitution, good governance and progress, he said.
Saying that well-wishers of the constitution with monarchy were now asking for fresh national referendum to create hurdles in promulgating the new constitution with federalism, he said that he could not accept anyone making fun of the new constitution as it was made possible by the struggle of 60 years.
In addition, he said that allocating 20 per cent of national budget in education sector was a must as education was the backbone of the nation.
Meanwhile, UCPN (Maoist) leader Dev Gurung has stressed the need of settling the issues related to the peace, constitution drafting process and formation of the national consensus government through consensus.
Taking part in a face-to-face programme at the Reporters’ Club on Friday, leader Gurung said, however, atmosphere of trust among the three major parties- the UCPN ( Maoist), the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML)- was a must for this.
Growing mutual distrust among the big parties has caused hindrances in moving forward the peace and constitution drafting process and initiating a process for the national consensus government, he said.
Also speaking at the programme, Nepali Congress leader Dr. Narayan Khadka urged the Maoist leadership to fully abide by the November 1, 2011 agreement on the peace process reached among the parties.
He opined that there was no alternative to Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai resigning his post to pave the way for the formation of the national consensus government and thereby expedite the peace and constitution drafting process.
Similarly, CPN (UML) Chief Whip Bhim Acharya said the promulgation of the new constitution within slated time was possible if the integration of the Maoist former combatants was completed within mid-March, urging the Maoists to implement the seven-point political agreement on the peace process.
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