KATHMANDU, Sept 5: Seven Constituent Assembly (CA) members of the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic) have announced that they would no longer support the government. [break]
They announced withdrawal of their support to the government, alleging that the latter took ´anti-Madhes´ decision by stripping off state privileges including army security to Parmananda Jha after he denied to take fresh oath for the post of vice president in Nepali as ruled by the Supreme Court. They also asked their party members in the cabinet to immediately tender resignations to respect the sentiments of the Madhesi people.
Those withdrawing support to the government are Pramod Prasad Gupta, Mohammad Okil Ansari, Rama Nanda Mandal, Kaushal Kumar Roy Yadav, Neelam Barma, Asha Kumari Sardar and Lalita Sah.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital on Saturday, they said they would no longer support the anti-Madhesi government even as their party is yet to take any ´institutional decision´ to this effect.
On Friday, the government withdrew army security for Jha and removed the national flag from his residence.
At the press meet, Pramod Kumar Gupta claimed that more parliamentarians have extended support to their cause. “We also make sincere request to other Madhesi parties supporting the government to withdraw their support.”
Altogether 358 of the total 601 members in the parliament had backed the current government. Of them, 28 members belong to MPRF (D).
Senior Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) leaders said the decision of some lawmakers to withdraw support will not topple the government.
“The government has already moved towards amending the interim constitution to end the oath row,” said joint general secretary of TMDP Jitendra Sonar. “This will not affect the government.”
Meanwhile, Rastriya Janamukti Party, which has one member the parliament, has also announced withdrawal of support to the government. A Central Committee meeting of the party withdrew the support, alleging that the government was not focused on constitution drafting.
The party also alleged that the Special Security Plan introduced recently was aimed at suppressing the movement of indigenous nationalities, dalits, and minorities.
koshraj@myrepublica.com
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