While demanding revision of various provisions, most of the lawmakers stressed that promulgation of the new constitution should not be delayed any longer under any pretext.Revision of the proposed delineations under the seven-province model, keeping the existing districts intact, and not dividing the same ethnic clusters between two or more provinces dominated the debate Friday, the third consecutive day of deliberations in the 601-seat CA.
Altogether 325 CA members had aired their views as Friday's discussions concluded. Altogether 452 lawmakers have registered their names for participation in the debate. Those who haven't registered their names will not be allowed to speak in the CA during this stage.
After this, interested lawmakers will be allowed to register amendment proposals to any article of the constitution bill. Then, article-wise deliberations will be conducted before endorsing the constitution through a two-thirds majority of the full CA.
Stating that federalism was an experiment in Nepal, former prime minister and CPN-UML senior leader Jhalnath Khanal emphasized that only unity among the people could lay the ground for the success of federalism. Lawmakers representing the Tharu community have demanded the inclusion of Kailali and Kanchanpur in province 5, the Madhesi community demanded some hill areas for province 2 and lawmakers from the Magar community demanded that the Magar population cluster should not be divided into different provinces. They have no problem with inclusion of the community in Province 4 or 5 but they are strongly against division of the cluster.
"Protests and riots in Kailali were a result of the people's ire against the CA's deception of the Tharu community, and its breaching of past commitments," said lawmaker Janak Lal Chaudhari.
Lawmakers from Madhes demanded that some hill areas and Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari in eastern Nepal should be included in Province 2. Lawmakers Kiran Yadav, Umesh Kumar Yadav and Dhamendra Sah, among others, demanded inclusion of some hill and Chure areas in the Madhes province.
On the other hand, lawmakers have stood divided over whether to adopt a strict or flexible provision on citizenship. Women lawmakers, including Sujata Koirala, Mamata Giri and Pratikshya Tiwari, demanded a more flexible provision on granting citizenship through the mother.
However, UML senior leader Madhav Nepal argued that a strict provision was needed on citizenship to discourage foreigners from taking up Nepali citizenship so easily. Women lawmakers have also demanded guaranteeing 40 percent representation for women in local bodies as well.
Lawmakers from major political parties have a unanimous voice for including the threshold in the new constitution. Lawmakers Bharatmohan Adhikari, Ramhari Khatiwada and Bishal Bhattarai, among others, strongly recommended a threshold under the new constitution.
Nepali Congress lawmaker and Finance Minister Ram Saran Mahat stressed on removing any provision related to any ideology in the new constitution. He said that the constitution should be free from any ideological baggage. He also stressed removing some of the provisions that assure the people of rights that the state cannot grant in practice.
UCPN (Maoist) lawmakers Haribol Gajurel and Janardan Sharma stressed addressing the genuine demands of various indigenous and marginalized communities. "Parties seem to be insisting on promulgating the constitution without paying any serious attention to the protests across the country. The genuine demands must be listened to and addressed," said Gajurel.
Dalit and some non-Dalit lawmakers from various political parties demanded ensuring of 13 percent representation from the Dalit community in all public bodies. "The new constitution must not hesitate to guarantee 13 percent representation of the suppressed Dalit community in all sectors," said lawmaker Karan Bahdur BK. Dulari Harijan seconded him.
Lawmakers representing the Tharu, Magar, Limbu, Sherpa, Tamang and other indigenous communities demanded special zones and protected zones in various areas so as to help the various backward communities make progress. They have also demanded proportional representation for the various backward ethnic groups.
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