PM Khanal likely to resign tomorrow
KATHMANDU:
The House got down to business after a hiatus of more than two weeks as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bharat Mohan Adhikary read out a letter from Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal today expressing ‘commitment to resign on August 13 if no tangible progress could be made by then’.
And there are no signs that there will be any progress, let alone tangible, in next three days.
The main opposition Nepali Congress had been obstructing parliamentary session for more than last two weeks demanding that the five-point deal, which calls for Khanal’s resignation, be implemented.
Sources close to Prime Minister Khanal said he would most probably tender his resignation to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on August 12 as August 13, the date set by the prime minister himself, is Saturday.
“The prime minister is likely to address the House before tendering his resignation to the President on Friday,” added the sources. Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang has slated next House meeting for Friday.
“I have already expressed my commitment to step down on August 13 if consensus could not be forged on fundamental issues of peace process — number, modality, norms, rank determination and rehabilitation package of Maoist combatants. I again reiterate the commitment before the House,” stated the prime minister’s address which was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Adhikary.
Coalition partners and the main opposition were engaged in backstage negotiations on the draft of the prime minister’s speech to end the House obstruction for the last four days.
On Monday, NC had almost got the situation in its favour but the last-moment kibosh on the proposed speech by the leaders of the Unified CPN-Maoist had prolonged the House disruption by two more days.
The prime minister in his address also admitted that he could not bring about substantial progress on issues related to management of Maoist combatants, return of properties seized by the Maoists, formation of a commission on the disappeared, and setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission during his tenure. “It is my moral and political duty to make efforts and resolve the deadlock for the implementation of the five-point agreement. I urge all the political parties to take this seriously,” read the PM’s address.
He has also welcomed Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent commitment to complete regrouping of Maoist combatants by August 31.
Addressing today’s House session, Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ramchandra Paudel said Prime Minister Khanal’s tenure was a failure. “What I had repeatedly told the prime minister during his six-month tenure has turned out to be true,” said Paudel.
Khanal, with the backing of the Unified CPN-Maoist, had beaten Paudel in the prime ministerial poll in February.
With Khanal’s resignation quite near, stage is set for a new government, but the passage of the fiscal budget for 2011/12 has fallen into the mire.
Source: THT
The House got down to business after a hiatus of more than two weeks as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bharat Mohan Adhikary read out a letter from Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal today expressing ‘commitment to resign on August 13 if no tangible progress could be made by then’.
And there are no signs that there will be any progress, let alone tangible, in next three days.
The main opposition Nepali Congress had been obstructing parliamentary session for more than last two weeks demanding that the five-point deal, which calls for Khanal’s resignation, be implemented.
Sources close to Prime Minister Khanal said he would most probably tender his resignation to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on August 12 as August 13, the date set by the prime minister himself, is Saturday.
“The prime minister is likely to address the House before tendering his resignation to the President on Friday,” added the sources. Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang has slated next House meeting for Friday.
“I have already expressed my commitment to step down on August 13 if consensus could not be forged on fundamental issues of peace process — number, modality, norms, rank determination and rehabilitation package of Maoist combatants. I again reiterate the commitment before the House,” stated the prime minister’s address which was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Adhikary.
Coalition partners and the main opposition were engaged in backstage negotiations on the draft of the prime minister’s speech to end the House obstruction for the last four days.
On Monday, NC had almost got the situation in its favour but the last-moment kibosh on the proposed speech by the leaders of the Unified CPN-Maoist had prolonged the House disruption by two more days.
The prime minister in his address also admitted that he could not bring about substantial progress on issues related to management of Maoist combatants, return of properties seized by the Maoists, formation of a commission on the disappeared, and setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission during his tenure. “It is my moral and political duty to make efforts and resolve the deadlock for the implementation of the five-point agreement. I urge all the political parties to take this seriously,” read the PM’s address.
He has also welcomed Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent commitment to complete regrouping of Maoist combatants by August 31.
Addressing today’s House session, Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ramchandra Paudel said Prime Minister Khanal’s tenure was a failure. “What I had repeatedly told the prime minister during his six-month tenure has turned out to be true,” said Paudel.
Khanal, with the backing of the Unified CPN-Maoist, had beaten Paudel in the prime ministerial poll in February.
With Khanal’s resignation quite near, stage is set for a new government, but the passage of the fiscal budget for 2011/12 has fallen into the mire.
Source: THT
