Commentary: Why is prez unhappy?

KATHMANDU, June 24: Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Nembang called on President Ram Baran Yadav at the latter’s residence in Sheetal Niwas to discuss constitution writing on Monday.

Nembang reached the President’s Office in the wake of the stay order by the Supreme Court (SC) against the 16-point agreement reached among major political powers on the contentious issues of the new constitution.

CA Chairman appraised the head of the state that the statute writing won’t be halted even after the apex court’s order. To his surprise, President Yadav is learnt to be dissatisfied with Nembang’s view.

“There should be harmony among all three estates of the nation,” President told the CA Chairman.

In reply, Chairman Nembang questioned, “Can an estate breach the jurisdiction of another?” “Give your suggestion to the SC, not me.”

The heated arguments between the two seem personal, but it holds high significance in national politics.

Major four political forces on June 9 inked the 16-point agreement in a breakthrough in statute writing. With the SC’s order, the relationship between three estates of the nation—legislative, executive and judiciary—has turned sour. And Sheetal Niwas is not happy.

Few Madhesh-based parties had objected the agreement among major forces. Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party, Federal Democratic Forum, Nepal, Sadhbhawan among other had handed a memorandum to the president on June 13.

They had requested President Yadav to protect the constitution as major parties breached the statute. President Yadav is learnt to say that he will not move away from his duty in the coming days too.

If sources are to be believed, the head of the state is not positive toward the 16-point pact. It is said that he is dissatisfied with the agreement that proposes holding election for the president after the constitution comes into effect.

A UML leader following the development said the arguments between president and chairman should be viewed in this context.

Advisor to the president, whoever, claim the head of the state is for promulgation of the new statute at the soonest.

“It will be a great achievement for the first president of the republic Nepal to bid adieu with the statute in place,” legal advisor to the president Lalit Basnet said, “It is the responsibility of the president and need of the nation to promulgate the much-awaited constitution.”