Meeting of top political leaders concludes on 'positive note'

The meeting of the top leaders of major political parties has concluded on a positive note, it has been said.

The meeting reached a consensus in principle among the participants to remove the parliament stalemate and allow its business unhindered, said Prime Minister and Chairperson of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal after the meeting that took place at the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire in Singha Durbar today.

The second phase of the meeting was scheduled to take place in the Federal Parliament Building in New Baneshwor today itself, it has been said.

Speaker Ghimire has been requested to postpone the prescheduled HoR meeting for 1 pm today until 4 pm, said the Nepali Congress chief whip Ramesh Lekhak. "The parliament should deal with important work. So, the meeting was positive about allowing the parliament business based on a consensus. The second round of the meeting will conclude the remaining issues," he said.

Stating that they were ready to allow the smooth business of the parliament, the CPN (UML) whip Mahesh Bartaula, a meeting participant, said as the meeting was not clear on the issue of the formation of the high level committee to probe the smuggling of 100 kg gold, the next round would further discuss the issue.

Others present in the meeting were the Maoist Centre chief whip Hitraj Pandey, Chairperson of main opposition CPN (UML) KP Sharma Oli, the party's parliamentary party deputy leader Subas Chandra Nembang, and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The UML has been obstructing the parliament session demanding the formation of a high level committee to probe the gold smuggling case.

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