Taking part in the debate, while UCPN-M member Hisila Yami presented Maoist party’s views on fundamental rights and directive principles, NC member Pushpa Bhgusal said the rights mentioned as fundamental rights won’t make sense if people cannot enjoy the rights. Bhusal said the constitution should have a provision of compensation to the citizens if they are deprived of the fundamental rights.
UML member Rabindra Adhikari said the issues mentioned as fundamental rights in the report are very good and said pluralism is integral part of democracy. He called for special mentioning of the rights of disabled persons in the constitution.
CA member Chandan Saha called for amendment to a provision in the report to end the discrimination against the citizens in appointment in constitutional bodies. UML’s Nazir Miya Haq said the report is discriminatory against the Muslim community and some of the provisions in the report should be amended.
Independent CA member Sadrul Miya Haq called CA members to speak for special constitutional provision for the development of the Muslim community.
UCPN-M’s Keshav Nepal said fundamental rights are the main soul of the constitution and the issues to be included in the fundamental rights can be refined further through consensus among the political parties.
NC’s Radheshyam Adhikari said the provision for equal rights of sons and daughter to ancestral property as fundamental rights is positive. He said rights to employment, environment, education and health should also be included in the constitution.
UML’s Raghubir Mahaseth said the provision on citizenship be should be as per the arrangement in the interim constitution and existing Nepali laws.
TMDP’s Ramani Ram called for string and implementable provision for women’s rights as fundamental rights.
UCPN-M’s Sabitri Kumar Kafle called for revolutionary land reform and right of tillers to land ownership should be made a fundamental right.
NC’s Jagadish Narsingh KC said women’s and child rights, right to education, health and employment and rule of law should be enshrined as fundamental rights.
CA members including Bhagwati Chaudhary, Nabindra Raj Joshi, Dama Sharma, Kiran Kumari Ray, Kalpana Dhamala, Bishwodip Lingden, Shambhu Hazara and Raj Kumar Rai spoke on the need of constitutional guarantee for a host of rights including women’s rights, right to education, health and employment, right to information, right to freedom, right to mother tongues and right to basic minimum.
While Maoist CA members spoke in favor of compulsory military training to all citizens, NC CA members raised voice against such a provision.
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