Revive 1990 statute: KP Bhattarai

KATHMANDU, March 28: Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has called on the political parties and citizens to revive the “excellent” 1990 constitution to save the country from further sliding into crisis. Bhattarai has also dubbed the concepts of federalism, republicanism and secularism as against the “original national identity” as well as national necessity.



“As there are sharp differences among the political parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA) over the hastily-imported concepts of federalism, secularism and republicanism, it is equally clear that such things would be against the original national identity and necessity,” reads a press statement issued by Bhattarai and circulated by one of his aides on Sunday. [break]



Bhattarai, who is leading a secluded life and rarely comments on national politics, has urged the citizens and the political parties to immediately move ahead towards reviving the 1990 constitution as he doesn´t see, while analyzing the current situation, the possibility of a new constitution on May 28, which would pose serious challenges to the country´s existence. The 1990 constitution, which was promulgated when Bhattarai was the prime minister of the interim government, had the provisions of constitutional monarchy and Hindu state.



The remarks of the octogenarian leader comes a few days after former king Gyanendra Shah said that monarchy "has not ended". Bhattarai is an avowed believer in "constitutional monarchy". This also comes after the demise of Girija Prasad Koirala who led a successful People´s Movement II that ousted the 240-year old monarchy. The Constitutional Assembly abolished monarchy and declared Nepal a republican and secular state in 2008. Shah had accepted that decision and said so in his press conference when he left the Narayanhiti Palace after the CA decision.



The only living founding member of the NC is of the view that the country is having political and constitutional vacuums because the “excellent” constitution of the 1990 was hastily dumped without giving it a chance to function properly.



“If the current situation continues, it will have adverse impacts on the country´s independence, legitimacy, social harmony and prosperity,” the statement adds. Bhattarai has also said that it would be appropriate to adopt the principle of national reconciliation, as floated by late BP Koirala and Ganeshman Singh, to save national integrity and social harmony in the present situation.

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