Monday, June 1, 2009

India 'concerned' over deadlock in Nepal

India 'concerned' over deadlock in Nepal


Kathmandu, June 01: India on Monday expressed concern over the stalemate in Nepal's peace process as it pressed key political parties to move ahead with the crucial cabinet expansion, party sources said. 

Indian envoy to Nepal, Rakesh Sood, who held separate meetings with Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-UML leader K.P Sharma Oli on Monday, discussed the political developments in the country. 

The Indian Ambassador's meeting with Koirala, especially on the eve of the likely expansion of the three-member cabinet, is regarded here as significant by analysts. 

Sood went to Koirala's residence at Maharajgunj and discussed various issues, including the ongoing peace process, expansion of the new Cabinet and Constitution drafting, Nepali Congress sources said. 

He is known to have told Koirala that "further delay in giving full shape to the cabinet would reflect badly" on the landmark peace process in the country, the nepalnews online reported. 

In his meeting with Oli, the Indian ambassador voiced similar concern over the delay in cabinet expansion, the report said. 

The meetings with the Indian envoy came as the CPN-UML led government has tried to end the deadlock over the distribution of portfolios and expand the three-member cabinet. 

Envoy Sood has met the Prime Minister at least twice after the veteran communist leader took over the top post, it said. 

Though Premier Nepal formed the government last week, he has been unable to break the deadlock over the distribution of portfolios among key allies, who are part of the 22 party coalition. 

The government on Monday inched closer to firming up the multi-party coalition agenda as it finalised a Common Minimum Programme (CMP), with a key expansion of the cabinet likely to take place tomorrow. 

Bureau Report 

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