Parties near consensus

KATHMANDU, AUG 06 - The meeting of Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee ( PDCC ) has been called for 5 pm today with a purpose of preparing consensus report on contentious issues of new constitution .

UCPN (Maoist) vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is in a meeting of top leaders of major four parties, informed eKantipur that though discussions are in positive directions final deal is yet to be secured.

Eight days ago, full House Constituent Assembly (CA ) has directed PDCC to modify the draftconstitution on the basis of suggestions provided by people on various provisions of constitution .IfPDCC prepares report today, CA meeting will be called for Friday.

Though PDCC was entrusted to prepare report within four days, it could not complete within the deadline due to the dispute among parties on demarcation of state. The PDCC meeting has been called after parties reached near toconsensus on demarcation of federal units. Parties have already agreed to go for six-province model. According to a leader, there will be consensus on remaining issues by 5 PM.

Top leaders of four major political parties on Wednesday said that though they are “close to consensus ” on disputed issues of constitution drafting, they still need to go the extra mile to settle the issues such as number and demarcation of federal units, secularism, and provisions on citizenship.

The leaders said they have agreed to incorporate Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari and Kanchanpur in the hill province. However, the disputes over Kailali and Saptari could not been resolved till late evening.

On the delineation of federal provinces, the three parties, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik, have more concerns while UCPN (Maoist) has said that it is willing to be flexible on the issue. The main opposition, UCPN( Maoist) has agreed to settle on a six-province model, provided that other contentious issues—secularism, citizenship and inclusive and proportional representation of margnalised communities—are settled in a package.