Urge agitating parties to halt protests
KATHMANDU, Nov 5: A meeting of top leaders from the major political parties has decided to move forward the constitution amendment bill and find a political solution to the disputes on provincial boundaries within the next three months.
The meeting took the decision by way of forging a common stance of the ruling parties as well as the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC), for talks with the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).
“We agreed on a few issues, including forwarding the constitution amendment bill for endorsement and finding a political solution to the provincial boundary dispute by forming a political committee,” said CPN-UML leader Madhav Nepal. Emerging from the meeting, he also informed that the major parties are hopeful the agitating parties will come to an agreement on their proposal.
According to the party leaders, the political committee will be entrusted with finding a solution to lthe provincial boundary dispute through political consensus within the next three months. “Proposed boundaries in the new constitution could be amended following suggestions made by the political committee in political consensus, if the agitating parties agree to the idea,” said UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
The Sushil Koirala-led former government had registered a constitution amendment proposal in parliament, aiming to address some of the major demands raised by the agitating UDMF. Emerging from the meeting, NC senior leader Sher Babadur Deuba informed that the decision to move the constitution amendment proposal forward aims to address the demands of the agitating parties for inclusive representation and rearranging of constituency delimitations on the basis of population.
The decision by the major parties comes a day after Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj criticized the govenrment of Nepal for not moving the constitution amendment bill forward.
Though talks with the agitating Madhesi Front had been scheduled at the prime minister's official residence at Baluwatar after the meeting between the ruling and opposition parties, the agitating parties snubbed the talks. Leaders from major parties were informed later in the evening about the inability of UDMF leaders to join the talks.
The meeting of ruling and opposition parties also urged the agitating parties to halt their protests and join talks once again. “We urge the agitating parties to halt the protest and join the talks once again,” said NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula.
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