PRESIDENT, PACHANDA HOUR-LONG DISCUSSIONS Kathmandu, 1 July: President Dr.. Ram Baran Yadav and Maoist Chairman Prachanda hor-long discussions Sunday and the chief of the party leading the government said later the head of state called for a consensus budget. ‘There should be a package deal and the prime minister will resign immediately,” Prachanda said. President Yadav also held discussions with Sharat Singh Bhandari who has launched a new terai-based party following his expulsion from MJFL by Deputy Pime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar. Nnnn PRESIDENT GREETS COUNTERPARTS Kathmandu, 1 July: President Ram Baran Yadav has sent congratulatory messages today to Governor General of Canada, David Johnston and President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, on the occasion of the National Day of both the nations, RSS reports. . Similarly, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai also sent congratulatory messages to prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Joseph Harper and Prime Minister of Somalia, Abidiweli Mohamed Ali on the same occasion. Sending the messages, they expressed the confidence that the existing friendly relations of Nepal with the two countries will grow further in the years ahead nnnn NO SUPREME COURT INTERIM ORDER .ON CONSENSUS BUDGET Kathmandu, 1 July: A division bench of the supreme court Sunday ruled there was no need to issue an interim order and quashed a writ petition of a petitioner a stay order. He claimed government was preparing to announce an annual budget for 2069/70 unilaterally without consensus of parties. The annual fiscal year begins mid-July. A bench of Justice Damodar Prasad Sharma and Ram Kumar Shah announced the verdict. The verdict comes as President Yadav and opposition parties have ven calling fo consensus on a budget. nnnn