Maoists likely to get home portfolio

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal may use his “discretionary power” to offer the home ministry to the Unified CPN-Maoist, though UML stalwarts, including former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal and K P Sharma Oli, are against it.

UML politicians, in talks with the Maoists, said a decision on who should hold the Home Ministry would be taken by tomorrow. “Once the dispute over the Home Ministry is resolved, agreement on other ministries will be easily reached,” a UML leader said.

However, UML negotiators are still asking the Maoists to give up their claim on the Home Ministry and accept the Defence Ministry instead. “Talks are on and they will settle for the Defence Ministry,” sources said. Ultimately, it is the PM who will use his discretionary power.

Meanwhile, Nepal and Oli today held a separate meeting with UML central committee members and reviewed the seven-point agreement.

The UCPN-M decided to vote for Khanal only after the latter struck a deal, which envisages creating either a separate security force of Maoist combatants or a combined force comprising equal number of personnel from both the Maoist combatants and security agencies. The deal also envisages long-term “partnership of the Left alliance”.

Central committee member Netra Panthi said Nepal and Oli briefed them about the ongoing talks between the UML and Maoists. The Maoists have said they would not join the government without the home ministry.

“It will be suicidal if we let the home ministry slip out of our hands,” Panthi quoted Oli. While Nepal reminded that a standing committee meeting held on February 5 decided not to give security-related ministries to the Maoists. The standing committee meeting had even decided to amend some of the controversial clauses of the secret deal.

While addressing a felicitation organised by Press Chautari Nepal, the PM said the seven-point deal should not be misunderstood as it r ended the political deadlock. He also said a particular ministry should not be made an issue for joining the government.

However, 14 parties today slammed the seven-point deal between the UML and Maoists, saying it was a conspiracy against democracy. Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar of MJF-D said they would oppose it.