Skip to main content

Nepali Congress still divided on way forward

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bill registration an important step: India

India has said the Nepal government’s registration of a constitution amendment bill in Parliament is an “important step”. “As part of the ongoing efforts, the registering of a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Nepali Parliament on November 29, 2016 is an important step,” said Spokesperson for Indian Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup. Responding to the Post’s question on the bill, Swarup said, “Our consistent position has been that peace, stability and progress of Nepal is in the interest of both India and Nepal. We have therefore been supportive of initiatives of the government of Nepal to meet the aspirations of all sections of its society through dialogue and constitutional process. “We hope that all sides will remain closely engaged and the ongoing efforts would be concluded successfully,” he said, while reiterating that “as a close and friendly neighbour of Nepal, India will continue to extend all support for Nepal’s peace, stability and economic development as prioritized …
Post a Comment
Read more

Amendment proposal at behest of India: Oppn MPs

Opposition lawmakers have claimed that the government registered the constitution amendment bill in Parliament at the behest of India. The opposition parties obstructed the meeting of Parliament for the third consecutive time on Sunday, demanding the withdrawal of the amendment bill, which proposes reviewing the province boundaries, the citizenship provisions and the criteria for representation in the National Assembly.
“It will be treachery if the constitution, which was promulgated with the backing of 90 percent of people's representatives, is amended on the instructions of any foreign country,” said Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP) lawmaker Anuradha Thapa Magar while speaking at the House, Sunday. Lawmakers from opposition parties, including the CPN-UML, CPN (ML), NWPP, Rartriya Janamorcha and Nepa Party, stood up at their respective places and obstructed House proceedings right after Speaker Onsari Gharti announced commencement of the meeting.

As Speaker Gharti allowed the op…
Post a Comment
Read more

Minister of my health

Biswas BaralThe curious case of Gagan Thapa I don’t know Gagan Thapa well. What I know better is that I want him to continue as my health minister. How many ministers have there been in the post-1990 democratic Nepal who have done something worthwhile for the common folks and not directed all their focus on enriching themselves and their mother parties? Gokarna Bista. Lalbabu Pandit. Janardan Sharma. Narayan Kaji Shrestha. There aren’t many. This is why when we have someone like Gagan Thapa in the cabinet we should ensure that he stays put for at least a few years. 
If you want to know what Thapa has done, you only need to visit Kanti Children’s Hospital at Maharajgunj, which was until recently among our most mismanaged and dirtiest public hospitals—and this was a hospital for children. The doctors, nurses and other staff there were rude, offensive even, to the parents who brought their children there for treatment. Nor did the hospital staffs seem to have a clue about how to deal with …
Post a Comment
Read more