Quake brings divided parties together in Nepal

The devastating earthquake that jolted Nepal on April 25 has apparently brought together the otherwise divided political leadership in the country.

A meeting here of the top leaders of major political parties on Thursday decided to come together to address the post-earthquake situation and assess the scale of the damage and the ongoing rescue and relief work in the affected areas.

They agreed to bring a common resolution in parliament on Thursday that is resuming after a one-month break.

According to the decision, they have agreed to table a common proposal on relief distribution, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

"The major parties have agreed to table a common long- and short-term proposal for reconstruction and rehabilitation. They have assured that they will support the government's efforts to address the policy and programme for the post-quake situation," Nepali Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka said.

The parties are mulling several measures like the resettlement of the thousands of displaced people, raising funds for reconstruction, rebuilding of private houses, providing relief materials in an effective manner, treatment of the injured people and resumption of schools and government offices.

"We want that the state should leave no stone unturned while addressing the post-quake situation," Khadka said.

To express solidarity with the quake victims, the top leaders of three major political parties -- Prime Minister Sushil Koirala of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML chairman K.P. Oli and UCPN-Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal -- who were sharply divided during the constitution drafting process, visited different places in Rusuwa and Nuwakot together on Wednesday.

After disembarking from a helicopter together with Oli and Dahal at Dhadingbesi on Wednesday, Koirala said: "All the political parties of Nepal are ready to work together to cope with any kind of national crisis."

(Anil Giri can be contacted at giranil@gmail.com)