Majority of Nepali Congress (NC) leaders have expressed serious
reservations over the constitution amendment proposal that the party leadership
is seeking to push forward. Although the leaders were positive about the
amendment proposal concerning citizenship, representation in the upper house,
and the formation of a language commission, majority of them objected to an
amendment proposal which proposes taking five hill districts out from Province
5 to ensure that Province 4 stretches from Nawalparasi to Bardiya.
Speaking at a meeting called by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba on
Monday to hold further discussions on the amendment proposal and chart out the
party's strategy, most of the current and former office bearers and other
leaders of the party suggested to the party not to move forward the amendment
bill, which they said will fail in parliament, according NC leader Dr Minendra
Rijal.
While President Deuba had argued that amendment to the constitution was necessary to hold polls within the stipulated deadline, Bimalendra Nidhi had echoed the party president. However, most leaders had argued that the amendment specially relating to the revision of Province 5 would push the country toward fresh round of conflict.
While President Deuba had argued that amendment to the constitution was necessary to hold polls within the stipulated deadline, Bimalendra Nidhi had echoed the party president. However, most leaders had argued that the amendment specially relating to the revision of Province 5 would push the country toward fresh round of conflict.
Speaking on
the occasion, NC former general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula had urged the
Party President Deuba to take initiative to call a meeting of the leaders of
four major political forces. "It is not appropriate to bypass the UML
while making amendment to the new constitution. Either you or the prime
minister should take initiative to call a meeting to arrive at consensus on the
amendment," he had further said.
Leaders
hailing from Province 5 had suggested to the party leadership not to support
the amendment proposal, which they said seeks to take out hill districts from
the province. "I won't go against the decision of party president. I will
vote the party line. But he should understand that we won't be able to handle
the situation arising after the provincial boundaries are changed," NC
leader and Minister for Defense Bal Krishna Khand had told the meeting. Khand,
who is one of the close confidants of Deuba, hails from Rupandehi district in
the same province.
While the main opposition party, CPN-UML, is against any amendment to the new statute, differences over the proposed amendment have emerged also within other ruling parties including the CPN (Maoist Center) and the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front. Maoist Center leaders hailing from Province 5 including Top Bahadur Rayamajhi have strongly objected to the proposal, the agitating Federal Alliance that comprises all constituent parties of the United Democratic Madhesh Front (UDMF) has also snubbed the government's calls to back the amendment proposal.
The alliance has decided not to accept a precondition about
participating in the elections before the amendment is brought to parliament.
"We cannot sign an agreement as precondition. We must get to read the
amendment proposal before we do so," said the Alliance leader Manish Suman,
while adding that they do not know what amendments will be endorsed by
parliament.
Published in: MyRepublica
29/11/2016
Comments
Post a Comment