Most of the lawmakers addressing the parliament on Thursday accused the leaders of picking NGO and INGO workers, who would be influenced by donor agencies more than the country´s national interest.[break]
"Some of the commission members are pursuing their study in universities or some others are working with NGOs. What made the leaders appoint such individuals? Couldn´t they find experts in the field?" questioned Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani of Rastriya Janashakti Party in parliament. "This is the height of indifference."
Lohani said the way the commission has been constituted can´t reflect the aspirations of the people from various sections of the society.
Lila Nyaichyai of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party sought clarification from the leaders for appointing NGO activists as members of the commission. "There are many professors, economists, noted demographers and competent geographers deserving the post. But the leaders appointed INGO activists instead," she said.
CP Mainali of CPN (ML) also accused the leaders of promoting individuals who are working with the INGOs that are pouring in tens of millions of dollars to incite ethnic conflict in the country.
Also, Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha and Chandradev Joshi of CPN (Samyukta) criticized the selection of candidates for the statutory commission, which is entrusted with offering suggestions on delineation of provinces.
Lawmakers demanded that the government and the top leaders from the major political parties rectify their decision by appointing an independent and competent expert as the coordinator of the commission. So far, the government hasn´t appointed the head of the body.
The leaders appointed two members each from the three major political parties -- UCPN (Maoist), NC and CPN-UML -- and the United Democratic Madhesi Front.
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