Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan has said that summit talks between the seven-party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists will take place by the end of August.

Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan (File Photo)

Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan
(File Photo)
Talking to reporters after a programme in the capital Saturday, Sherchan said, ” I can tell you at this moment that summit talks between the SPA and the Maoists will take place by the end of August. This is almost certain.” He said both sides were doing homework for the summit meeting.

The summit talks, according to him, will take decisions on the formation of an interim government inclusive of the Maoists and interim parliament, among others. The government is set to come up with its views on these issues very soon, he added.

DPM Sherchan, who is also the health minister, said that the five-point agreement reached between the government the Maoists on Wednesday was a major breakthrough in the peace process.

Of late, Sherchan, who heads the People’s Front Nepal, has been voicing his discontent over the performance of the government, saying that the cabinet had not been able to take quick decisions on political matters. He even took Prime Minister GP Koirala to task for the latter’s statement that the King should be given space in democracy. The PFN leader said it’s the people, not the Prime Minister, who should decide the fate of the monarchy through the constituent assembly elections.