PRESIDENT, PARTY CONSULTATIONS BEGIN Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: One day after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav held consultations with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on continuing constitutional and political deadlock, the ceremonial head of state began consultations Friday morning with top leaders with Maoists leading the government, five-party Madeshibadi ruling coalition partners and opposition NC and UML. The president asked the premier Thursday to bring a budget for the remaining eight months of the current fiscal year 2012/13only with consensus of opposition. Friday’s consultations are being held after the Big Three and Madeshbadi parties failed to resolve their differences Thursday with agreement to meet again ZFriday to effort another attempt at consensus. “There was no agreement on anything,” UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said angrily and tersely. The leaders if four parties and a front discussed a budget, national consensus government and other issues. Consultations began Friday morning as a 21-party front supporting government called for government reshuffle and unilateral announcement of budget if no agreement is reached Friday between government and opposition. Leadership of government has emerged as the main issue with opposition demanding resignation of Prime Minister Bhattarai and Maoists demanding a package solution including agreement on constitutional issues that have to be taken up by a constituent assembly. Nnnn IGP TO ACCESS JUNIOR POLICE STAFF Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: Low ranking police personnel can now directly dial 9851290001 and express his/her grievances with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kuber Singh Rana on the last Saturday of every month, if their immediate bosses do not lend them an ear, Kamal Pariyar writes in Republica. In a bid to bridge the gap between low-ranking police personal and senior officers, Nepal Police has introduced plans based on the institutional priorities set by the IGP for this year. At a press meet organized at the police headquarter on Thursday, outgoing Spokesperson for the Nepal Police Binod Singh unveiled the plans. IGP Rana told Republica that the program would be helpful in managing complaints within the police establishment and build close links between the police personnel and the headquarters. “This will boost the morale of the police personnel, " said Singh. DIG Adhikari new spokesperson Deputy Inspector General of Police Keshav Adhikari on Thursday assumed his office at police headquarters as the new spokesperson for the Nepal Police. DIG Adhikari had joined the Nepal Police in 1986. Nnnn ________________________________________ ADVOCATES AGAINST PARLIAMENT REVIVAL Kathmandu, 2 Nov : Prominent legal professionals have protested the suggestion of former chief justices to resolve the constitutional difficulties by reinstating the parliament for a brief period arguing that the move could further deepen the ongoing political deadlock, Republica writes.. Issuing a joint press statement on Thursday, advocates Shambhu Thapa, Kumar Regmi, Tika Ram Bhattarai, Bhimarjun Acharya and Rabi Narayan Khanal have argued that parliament cannot be reinstated when there is no Constituent Assembly (CA) that functioned both as the parliament and the CA. They have argued that the suggestion to reinstate parliament for resolving the deadlock in such a situation could only complicate the current political impasse. The advocates have also argued that the move would go against the Supreme Court decision that clearly stated that the term of the CA cannot be further extended. They have also criticized the suggestion given a case regarding the issue is already pending at the apex court. The advocates have maintained that the decision to reinstate the CA, whose term was artificially extended for two more years, would be nonpolitical immoral, unconstitutional and against the mandate of people. Instead, they have urged the parties to make necessary preparations for fresh polls. Nnnn ________________________________________