The coordinator of the Maoist talks team, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, has demanded a national convention with participation of people from all sections of society, to draft a new constitution and annul the present one.
Speaking at a mass meeting organized by Maoists in Janakpur on Saturday, Mahara said that an interim regime should be formed by dissolving the present government and the Parliament should hold elections of the constituent assembly, according to reports.
Mahara said the agenda of organising a national convention was put forth during the first round of talks and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Mahara also alleged that a section of the seven-party alliance was for the status quo. “A force out of the SPA is heading in the opposite direction,” Mahara said.
Despite the code of conduct signed by the government and the Maoists on Friday, and in clear violation of it, a significant number of Maoist cadres in combat dresses carrying khukuris were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, a report from Dharan said, another member of the Maoist talks team, Dev Gurung, addressing a gathering said the government should announce national convention as the reinstatement of the House of Representatives was not the wish of those who participated in the people’s movement.
“The national convention is essential to provide legality to the movement. It will draft an interim constitution, form an interim government and that government will announce the constituent assembly poll,” Gurung said.