Top leaders discuss MCC, parliamentary blockade and national context

Discussions between the political parties have intensified regarding the approval of the grant assistance agreement between the Government of Nepal and the US aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) by the House of Representatives.

Separate meetings have been held between the ruling party Nepali Congress, ruling coalition partner CPN (Maoist Center) and top leaders of the main opposition CPN (UML) with the aim of concluding the agreement. The government has tabled the agreement in the House of Representatives on March 22 after a long tug of war. The ruling coalition, the opposition and the people are divided over the ratification of the agreement. Opponents of the agreement are in a street struggle after the government tabled the agreement in the House of Representatives.

Though preparations were made to discuss the House of Representatives agreement from today, the sitting of the parliament was postponed at the last minute. A meeting of the House of Representatives has been called for Friday at 1 p.m. The meeting is expected to begin discussions on the agreement.

A meeting between Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was held at the Parliament House, New Baneshwor today. After the meeting, UML Chairman Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Central Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' also had a discussion.

Chairman Oli had separate one-on-one discussions with Prime Minister Deuba and UCPN (M) Chairman Dahal. After the one-on-one meeting between the top leaders, UML-Congress and other UML-Maoist leaders had separate discussions, said UML leader Subash Chandra Nemwang.

"They (Deuba and Dahal) had serious and long talks," Nemwang said. He informed that positive discussions were held with the Maoist leadership. He said that the UML and the UCPN (M) have agreed to continue the bilateral talks.

Stating that good talks were held with the Prime Minister on the MCC, obstruction of parliament and national issues, Nemwang said that an agreement had been reached between Prime Minister Deuba and Chairman Oli to meet again.

 Stating that discussions have been held between the UML and the UCPN (Maoist) leadership from multiple angles, he told the media persons that no conclusion has been reached yet. "The issue of cooperation has not been reached in the meeting between the two presidents," he said.