The first meeting of the Council of Ministers has decided to take immediate measures to hold talks with the Maoists.

Talking to reporters after over an hour long meeting of the Council of Ministers, newly appointed Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said a cabinet meeting on Thursday will take a decision to hold talks with the Maoists.

He indicated that the government could lift the terrorist tag and withdraw red corner notice from the Maoists to create conducive environment for talks with the rebels.

The cabinet meeting also welcomed the Maoists’ unilateral ceasefire for three months.

The Council of Ministers has also decided to move ahead in the direction of peace and prosperity as per the roadmap of seven political parties and 12-point pact between Maoists and the political parties, he added.

The seven political parties and Maoists reached to an 12-point agreement to resolve Maoist insurgency through peaceful means and bring Maoists into the mainstream of politics.

The Council of Ministers has also decided to scrap all the ordinances and appointments made by the previous royal government.

The Council of Ministers expressed sincere thanks to the Nepalese people for their active participation in the pro-democracy movement of the country and also thanked the friendly countries, international communities and Non Resident Nepalese for their support to the people’s movement.

The Council of Ministers also paid tributes to the Martyrs. Situatla futher said that the government will make provision for full treatment to the injured people.

Sitaula said that the government will take initiative to probe in excessive use of force against the pro-democracy movement of the country and to take necessary action against people involved in it.

His Majesty the King reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives on last Monday as demanded by the seven party alliance following the 19-day long general strike of the seven opposition political parties.