Majority leaders express
doubts on statute implementation without consensus among major political forces
on amendment proposal
Nepali Congress, the largest party in Parliament,
is yet to come with a united front on the constitution amendment bill, raising
questions if the coalition partner has whole-heartedly supported the proposal.
NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba has reiterated that
he was confident of the Sanyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and the main
opposition CPN-UML coming to consensus on the amendment bill. If that was not
the case, he believes that the government would be able to garner enough votes,
with the support of Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Madhesi Morcha, to pass
the amendment bill through the Parliament. The former prime minister has
reportedly warned its cadres on going against the proposal.
But a majority of leaders from the party, during
public speeches around the country, have raised concerns over some of the
issues raised by the bill and have urged the government to take into account
the main opposition too before voting for the amendment proposal.
Despite the fact that the amendment bill was
registered in Parliament with the support of NC, major of the party leaders
have raised concerns over it, NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said. He lamented that
their party leadership had failed to take into account the sentiments of the
people before taking an official stance on the amendment bill. “Even the main
opposition has shown immaturity by seeking for a solution from outside the
Parliament,” said Mahat.
The government registered a constitution amendment
bill in Parliament last Tuesday with an aim to address the demands of the
Madhes-based parties, mainly over the state boundaries, language, citizenship
and representation in Upper House.
Speaking at a programme in Nawalparasi on Tuesday,
NC general secretary Sashank Koirala noted that it would not be possible to go
ahead with implementing the constitution without the support of the UML.
Hinting at his reservations on the government’s proposal to split the Hill districts
of Province 5 to incorporate it into Province 4, he said that the government
had not been able to hold enough dialogue with all political forces, or with
the citizens themselves, before taking a decision on such a sensitive matter.
Koirala added that if the government would be wise enough to withdraw the bill
if it failed to take into account the UML, Madhesi Morcha and RPP.
Former NC general secretary Prakash Man Singh also
expressed his doubts if the government would be able to garner enough votes to
support the bill in its present form. “Doors are always open to amend the bill
itself if that brings the UML and Madhesi Morcha on board,” he said.
Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand, Pushpa Bhusal
and Chandra Bhandari have also voiced their displeasure at the government's
plan to change the federal boundaries of Province 4 and 5. The bill has tried
to create Province 5 a Madhes-only state with a view to appease the
Madhes-based forces.
However, NC ministers in the government are still
hopeful on the amendment bill being passed. Speaking at a function in Chitwan
on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi pressed on
the need to create a condusive environment to support the amendment bill for
the sake of implementing the constitution. He claimed that an amendment
proposal was necessary for the larger ownership of the statute, elections and
stability in the country.
Published: 07-12-2016
The Kathmandu Post
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