The parliament secretariat issued the deferral notice after politicians from the NC and the UDMF could not arrive at a consensus on Friday till the evening. The NC leaders had tried to convince the UDMF leaders to support the constitution amendment proposal, which was registered by the previous government led by NC leader Sushil Koirala. But UDMF leaders turned down their request saying that they would support the bill only when it addresses the demands of Madhesis in bulk.
The most-awaited Reconstruction Authority bill had been forwarded by the parliament's bills committee on Wednesday and was expected to be tabled in the House meeting scheduled for 3 pm on Friday. The bill could not be tabled in the House meeting on Thursday, after the NC obstructed the proceedings demanding that the constitution amendment bill also be included in the parliament business.
NC leaders claimed that they were ready to support the government in getting the Reconstruction Authority bill endorsed, had the speaker included the constitution amendment bill in the business of the parliament Thursday itself. "We asked the government to clarify why the amendment bill was not included in the business of parliament. If they had furnished the clarification, things would have gone easily," said NC Spokesperson Dilendra Prasad Badu.
Lawmakers from the ruling CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) have flayed the NC for blocking the Reconstruction Authority bill going back on the words given by the party leaders. However, the NC leaders claimed that they are not against the bill. "We understand the importance of Reconstruction Authority bill, but we have sought two days to convince the agitating Madhes-based political parties to support the constitution amendment bill, which is equally important. The government seems reluctant to address the ongoing Madhes crisis," said NC Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha.
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