Bhattarai Seeks Suggestions From Civil Society

Kathmandu, June 26: Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai held discussions with the civil society leaders Tuesday evening in an effort to end the political deadlock.
During the meeting with the civil society leaders held at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Baluwatar, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai said he would not be an obstacle to end the present political crisis if political consensus was forged.
The PM told the civil society leaders that he has no difficultly to quit the post if parties strike a concrete deal, adding, but he saw no chance of forming new government constitutionally after his resignation.
The PM urged the civil society leaders to take a leading role for forging consensus among the parties and added all should take equal initiative to give a way out to the country, according to the PM’s personal secretariat.
“The country would move to further chaos if the PM resigned sans consensus,” civil society leader Padma Ratna Tuladhar quoted the PM as saying.
Saying unconstitutional steps should not be taken in the name of political decision, civil society leader Tuladhar said, adding that he suggested the PM that consensus among the parties was the only option to end the present deadlock.
Similarly, another civil society leader Damannath Dhungana said he drew attention of the PM to move ahead by taking oppositions into confidence.
Likewise, Dr Mathura Shrestha said theoretical consensus among the parties was necessary to do away with the political crisis and the PM should take initiative to this end.
Civil society leaders Dr Sundarmani Dixit, C K Lal and Shyam Shrestha were also present during the meeting with the PM. They said the political crisis would not end only by the resignation of the PM.
Dr Pitambar Sharma, former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, said he suggested the PM to prepare a proposal for consensus on his own.