Urges govt to put bill on hold

KATHMANDU, Dec 5: Ruling coalition partner Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has stated that some of the provisions in the constitution amendment bill are against the national interest and urged the government to put the bill on hold.

A meeting of the party's central executive committee on Monday concluded that some of the provisions of the bill are against national interest. "The changes made in the provincial delineation are mostly against national interest. Likewise, the proposed provision on language of official business is also equally objectionable," said Rajaram Shrestha, a member of the party's central executive committee.

Along with the argument, RPP, whose partnership is crucial for the ruling coalition to garner two-thirds majority in favor of the bill, asked the government to put the bill on hold for now saying that the people from Province 5 are protesting against it and even the Madhes-based political parties are dissatisfied with the bill.

The party has asked the government to initiate fresh discussions within the parties in parliament and create an environment for developing new understanding and consensus among the political forces.

RPP has also expressed its objection with the coalition partners for not including the party in the decision-making process while registering the bill in parliament.

With the ruling coalition partner RPP registering serious objections over the bill, which was registered two weeks ago in parliament by the government in a bid to take the agitating Madhes-based parties on board over the acceptance of the constitution, seems to have hit a snag. If RPP maintains its reservations over the bill, the ruling coalition would be unable to garner two-third majority in favor of the bill in a situation where the main opposition CPN-UML has been fiercely criticizing the bill.

However, the party has said that it is necessary to address the genuine demands of the Madhes-based political parties and other various groups.

"It is mandatory to hold the elections of local units, provincial assemblies and House of Representatives by January 2018 for the implementation of the constitution. It is necessary to address the genuine demands of the Madhes-based parties and various other groups to hold the elections," stated a press release issued after the party meeting.

The RPP also criticized the obstruction of parliament meetings by the main opposition CPN-UML. "It is inappropriate to prevent the tabling of the constitution amendment bill in parliament....Parliament is a place to seek solution to problems and it is against the norms of democracy and rule of law to obstruct it," stated RPP.

"Extremist tendencies and forces could gain sway if the right to discuss issues in the parliament is obstructed," read the statement further.

The fourth largest party in parliament has also expressed worries over the delay in the implementation of the constitution and election process as well as over the ongoing chaos and polarization. The party also urged all the concerned political parties to act seriously and responsibly to end the existing political deadlock and instability.  

 
• rastriya prajatantra party nepal