UDMF rejects bill
KATHMANDU, Nov 23: Major political parties have agreed to forward the constitution amendment bill in understanding with agitating Madhes-based political parties. The constitution amendment proposal registered in parliament by the previous Nepal Congress-led government aims to address some of the demands raised by the agitating parties.
A meeting between major opposition NC and ruling CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) held at prime minister’s official residence at Baluwatar on Monday, agreed to seek support of agitating parties for endorsing the proposal through parliament.
NC has been consistently insisting on tabling the constitution amendment bill claiming that it could be a step forward for addressing one of the major concerns raised during the ongoing Madhes movement.
UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the ruling and opposition parties have agreed to forward the NC-proposed bill only if it is acceptable to the Madhes-based parties. “We discussed forging a common stance over the current crisis, resolving ongoing Tarai protests through joint efforts, and forwarding the constitution amendment proposal registered in parliament after holding talks with the agitators,” Shrestha told Republica.
NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel said that the ruling and opposition parties will hold talks with the agitating parties to help endorse the bill from parliament. “We have agreed to hold separate talks with the agitating Madhesi parties with a view to seek their support for endorsing the bill,” said Poudel while emerging from the meeting.
The constitution amendment bill registered in parliament secretariat includes guaranteeing inclusiveness, and reorganizing electoral constituencies based on population among other things.
UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokhrel said that the government is willing to forward the constitution amendment bill based on broader political consensus. He further said any peaceful protest will be an issue of discussion but violent activities are not acceptable to the government.
UDMF rejects the proposal
Meanwhile, the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has rejected the proposal of the parties to forward the said constitution amendment bill stating the bill is incomplete and cannot address the demands of the ongoing protests.
“The bill was registered by the previous government led by the Nepali Congress as a measure for face saving in Madhes and preventing revolt within the party,” said Hridayesh Tripathi, the vice chairman of the Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party.
“It is childish act of NC to press other parties for forwarding the same incomplete bill. It shows that major three parties are status-quoist and do not want to resolve the Madhes issues through political dialogue,” he added.
“In the meeting with NC leaders, our chairman has clearly said that UDMF will not accept their proposal because any proposal that does not include the issue of provincial delineation cannot address the demands.”