CA process shouldn't be delayed: Leaders

KATHAMANDU, Sept 10: Leaders and lawmakers of various political parties have insisted that constitution should not be delayed any further under any pretext, as the Constituent Assembly (CA) has already invested in the constitution making effort.

While agitating Madhes-based political parties have been demanding halt to the CA process, leaders and lawmakers of major political parties have opposed the demand.Airing their views during the deliberations on the constitution bill at the CA meeting Thursday, Nepali Congress (NC) Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel, CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Bhim Rawal UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Goma Kunwar however urged the agitating parties to sit for talks if they want their demands addressed.

"Demarcation might be revised in line with the recommendation of the federal commission but constitution must be promulgated without delay as we have already spent eight years," said NC vice president Paudel.

Rawal of UML also insisted that parties should not hesitate from the CA process as more than two third lawmakers are in favor of promulgating the new constitution with the proposed draft. "CA does not recognize any power outside the sovereign body," he said. "We still appeal the political parties remained outside the process to join the dialogue and seek solution within this body." He said that most of the lawmakers need to accept the CA process despite having their differences upon various provisions.

UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Goma Kunwar said that new provisions on inclusiveness and proportional representatives still need to be revised to guarantee the rights of women.

NC lawmaker Gagan Thapa proposed suspending the decision of demarcation for the time being, entrusting the issue to be finalized through the federal commission.

Earlier, chief whips of major three political parties have said that there is no alternative to promulgating the new constitution despite differences. NC chief whip Chinkaji Shrestha, UML chief whip Agni Kharel and UCPN (Maoist) chief whip Girirajmani Pokhrel also appealed to other political parties to vote for their joint amendment proposal. Major three political parties have jointly tabled their amendment proposal on the constitution bill.

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