Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)

Narayan Singh Pun (File Photo)
Minister for Land Reforms and Management and president of Nepal Samata Party, Narayan Singh Pun, has said dialogue with mainstream political parties is essential for initiating peace talks with Maoist rebels.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters Club on Wednesday, Pun said, “Parliamentarian parties are the closest political forces to the government. They must support the government’s roadmap to restore peace and initiate dialogue with the Maoists.”

He said he would not compromise with anybody at the cost of the multi-party democracy.

Pun, a member of government’s talks team during the last round of peace talks with the Maoists, called on the agitating political parties to join hands with the government to find a solution to the crisis facing the country.

He said the parliamentary parties had a long political history and the crises facing the country can never be resolved by isolating them. Pun also said that there was no military solution to this kind of insurgency, “linked to security, political, economic and social aspects”.

He said it would take at least 10 years to completely resolve the long-drawn-out conflict.

He further said that Maoist activities were like that of a terrorist group.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the central working committee of the Nepali Congress held on Tuesday concluded that the reinstatement of parliament was only the way out of the present crisis.

A statement released after the meeting stated that all must work for re–establishment of people’s sovereignty and human rights.

The party has also welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to dissolve the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC), saying that it was a victory of people and rule of law.

Issuing a landmark verdict three days earlier, the apex court dissolved the controversial Royal Commission, declaring it as an unconstitutional body.