A meeting between the leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) held today failed to make any headway regarding the ratification of the MCC compact and resumption of parliamentary business, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said.
The meeting was convened at the residence of CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli in Balkot, Bhaktapur. However, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chairman Oli didn’t participate on the meeting.
Emerging from the meeting, Minister Karki told the media that they failed to give a new message from today’s discussions.
“However, our consultations will continue,” Minister Karki added.
Likewise, CPN (UML) General Secretary Shankar Pokharel said the UML could not share its decision as the opinion from the ruling coalition was still unclear.
“We have told them to come with a univocal stand of coalition in today’s meeting too. They have not made a univocal stand,” Pokharel said seeking a clear position of the ruling coalition on MCC compact.
A series of meeting have been going on among major parties, particularly to find consensus on MCC and resumption of parliamentary business. The CPN UML is obstructing the parliament demanding resignation of the Speaker or sacking of 14 MPs from the Speaker.
The ruling coalition parties, particularly CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) look worrisome on breaking of the present coalition government under Nepali Congress. They fear that Nepali Congress may accept demands of CPN UML and approve the MCC compact which they term as the anti-national.
Different student and youth wings of the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (US) have been organizing demonstrations against the MCC compact in front of House of Representatives building at New Baneshwor. The government has managed heavy police presence there.
The MCC has set a deadline of February 28, 2022 for parliamentary approval. It’s still unclear whether it will be ratified from the parliament within the stipulated timeframe.
