CARDS FOR LPG CYLINDERS Kathmandu, 2 May: LPG cylinders have become a rare commodity for the last four months even as Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai have promised people a clean and efficient administration to give relief to the people. Administration Wednesday started distribution of two types of cards to city residents from nearest dealers to make cylinders available to residents. Administration had first promised its distribution Sunday soon after the premier and his ministerial colleagues were given the cards. Residents said they are forced to buy getting cylinders in the unofficial market paying inflated prices—Rs. 4,200 for a cylinder that is available at Rs.1,500. nnnn . PM SAYS HIS PARTY WILL GOVT. GOVT.OF NATIONAL CONSENSUS Kathmandu, 2 May 1: Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai Tuesday said that the present UCPN-Maoist-led government would promulgate the new constitution. Talking to journalists at Biratnagar Airport, Dr. Bhattarai expressed his confidence that his party would succeed to promulgate the new constitution within the stipulated deadline, The Rising Nepal reports from Biratnagar. He also said that the new national consensus government would be led either by him or his party. “Forming the consensus government under our party is essential to resolve the political deadlock,” he said. Stating that the national consensus government could not be formed merely by forwarding a demand and showing the number of lawmakers, the Prime Minister said the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML should realize the reality of national politics. He said, “The Maoists are trying to form a unity government but the NC and UML are obstructing to give this government the shape of the unity government.” “I am trying to bring the NC and UML in the government to give it the shape of consensus government but they are not serious about it.” He said that the government was not ready to abandon its duty of concluding the tasks peace and constitution and insisted on a Maoist-led consensus government. “This Maoist-led government will not be changed without promulgating the new constitution,” he said. The government was serious to conclude the contentious issues of the constitution and it had given first priority to promulgate the new constitution within May 27, Dr. Bhattarai said. In another context, the Prime Minister said that the parties were trying to resolve the pending issues of constitution through dialogues. He informed that the parties in principle succeeded to reach a consensus among the issues of state restructuring, governance system and other issues of the constitution. He said, “The parties have agreed to adopt mixed governance system and they are now trying to identify the authority of the president and the prime minister.” Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said that the parties were close to consensus regarding state restructuring and they were intensifying dialogues to fix the number of provinces. He said that his party was ready to accept the federalism based on identity and capacity. Terming the Janakpur blast as a terrorist attack and a criminal activity, the Prime Minister said that the government was trying to identify the criminal groups involving in the blast. He also urged all to cooperate with the government to identify the criminal groups involving in the crime. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai Tuesday said that state mechanism as expected by the labourers could not be established in Nepal at the moment Addressing a workers’ rally organised on the occasion of the 123rd May Day in Biratnagar, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said that such state mechanism was impossible as the capitalist economy was not developed fully till now. Dr. Bhattarai however said the new constitution would be progressive one. “The new constitution will not be as claimed by the Maoists but it will guide the country towards the path of progress,” he said. “National politics, international and regional will prevent the Maoists from drafting such a constitution.” “We will draft a progressive constitution, develop capitalism on the basis of the constitution and push the country towards industrialization,” he said. He said that the conflict between the owners and workers was due to lack of independent economy in the country. He claimed that as the environment of investment was being prepared, Nepal’s economy would move towards independency after the promulgation of the new constitution. nnnn NC GIVES MAOISTS TWO DAYS TO MAKE WAY FOR GOVT.UNDER ITS LEADERSHIP Kathmandu, 2 May: Nepali Congress (NC) Tuesday decided to table a no-confidence motion against the government if it did not play a constructive role to resolve the disputed issues of the constitution within two days, The Rising Nepal reports. A joint meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) and Parliamentary Party (PP) of the party also gave the government a two day ultimatum to reach a consensus to form the national unity government. The meeting held at the Constituent Assembly building in New Baneshwore also concluded that the government was not positive to resolve the pending issues of the constitution and asked it to play a creative role to resolve the matters. The meeting held before the Constituent Assembly meeting also concluded that the present coalition government of the UCPN-Maoist and Madhes based parties was not serious to promulgate the new constitution. NC general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that the joint meeting decided to register a no-confidence motion against the government in order to promulgate the new constitution within the deadline. He said that the NC had given two more days to the government to resolve the pending issues of the constitution and the consensus government. NC was not ready to wait for more than two days and its leaders had taken the activities of the government seriously, he said. “They should show seriousness to resolve the contentious issues.” he said. The CWC members and lawmakers criticised the government and spoke about the role NC could play for the timely promulgation of the new constitution. The leaders also asked the party leadership about the chances of forming an NC-led government and stressed the need to bring a no-confidence motion to pave the way for a new government under the NC leadership. Issues of peace and disputed issues of the constitution were also discussed in the meeting, according to Sitaula. The meeting also decided to stick to the party’s earlier stance for seven federal states in the new constitution and be ready to go for directly elected executive government head. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary Prakash Man Singh Tuesday said that his party would bring a no confidence motion against the government. Speaking at a mass meeting organised by Nepal Trade Union Congress- Independent (NTUC-I) on the occasion of 123rd May Day, Singh said that his party was not ready to give continuity to the current government. He said that the Maoist-led government was not serious about promulgating the new constitution within the May 27 deadline. He also accused the UCPN-Maoist of spoiling the environment of consensus and delaying the resolution of the disputed issues of the constitution. He said that the NC-led government was essential to promulgate a democratic constitution within the stipulated deadline. General secretary Singh said that his party had initiated consultation with CPN-UML and other parties to bring the no confidence motion against the government. He further said that the present coalition government of the UCPN-Maoist and Madhes based parties was going against the democratic norms and values and it was necessary to replace it. He said that NC was not ready to accept more than seven federal provinces and a non democratic constitution. In another context, he said that his party was serious to adders the demands of the workers in the new constitution. He said unity among the workers was essential to protect democratic values and principle in the country. NC lawmaker Achyut Raj Pande said that NC was trying to draft a worker-friendly constitution and urged the workers’ union to exert pressures on the leaders for a labour friendly constitution. He urged the democratic workers to unite to secure the rights in the new constitution. NTUC-I former co-chairman Khila Nath Dahal said that the government was not serious to resolve the problems of the workers and added that the workers should fight against the discriminatory policy of the government. NC Kathmandu district committee president Bhimsen Das Pradhan said that without establishing workers’ rights, economic development of the country would be impossible. NTUC-I leaders Khagendra Khatri, Kedar Nath Dahal, Yubaraj Lama, Ram Ji Ghimire, Rama Poudel and others said that the new constitution should guarantee social security of the workers. They also stressed that the government should bring in a new policy to end the gender based violence and discrimination in the working places. Nnnn