Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Urmila Aryal threatened the government to quit from her post if it did not include women in interim constitution drafting committee, peace talks team, peace talks observation committee- formed after the agreement between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists on 16 June.
Speaking at a discussion program at the Reporters' Club, Aryal said these committees should be taken to the House of Representatives for approval where she would propose for representation of women in the panels. "If women's concerns are not addressed I will quit on moral grounds and join all the women protesting on the streets," Aryal said.
At the same program member of the Maoist talks team, Dina Nath Sharma urged Nepali women to take the initiative to push women related issues and come forward in the political forefront. He said that although women are involved in various levels in the Maoist party, the decision to not include women in the interim constitution drafting committee was made after much discussion.
Women leaders and activists of the seven-party alliance have been staging demonstrations in Kathmandu for a week, demanding their representation in the panels.