Speaking during special hours at Sunday´s House meeting, lawmakers urged parties to be flexible so as to bail the country out of current political deadlock. They argued that there is no alternative to extending the Constituent Assembly (CA) term -- that expires on May 28 -- to ensure rights of the people by promulgating the new constitution. [break]
NC Vice President Prakash Man Singh said it is the responsibility of all parties, including the UCPN (Maoist), to promulgate the new constitution and conclude the ongoing peace process. Arguing that NC has not put forth any new demands with the Maoists, Singh complained that the Maoists have not been honest enough to implement past agreements.
Singh said that the remaining 12 days -- after which the CA term would expire -- are very important to help institutionalize the achievements of Jana Aandolan II. “All parties should think pragmatically and find a way out of the current problem,” he said.
UML lawmaker Rabindra Adhikari said there is a constant fear among people as to what will happen after the CA deadline expires. He argued that country would plunge into a new phase of conflict if the CA deadline is not extended. Adhikari also accused the parties of conspiring to dissolve the CA.
Speaking on the occasion, Maoist lawmaker Jhakku Prasad Subedi said Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was chiefly to be blamed for the failure to promulgate the new constitution on time. “The constitution will not be promulgated even after five years should Madhav Kumar Nepal continue to lead the government,” he said.
Stating that they would not surrender for the cause of the people´s rights, Subedi said, “We will not help extend the Constituent Assembly term as long as the current government remains in place.”
House´s attention drawn over police misconduct
Lawmaker Kamala Panta drew attention of the House over the incident in which police personnel misbehaved with NC lawmaker Saraswati Chaudhary at Gaurighat, Kathmandu on Saturday evening. Panta demanded action against police personnel involved in the incident.
CA Chairman Subas Nembang has directed Home Minister Bhim Rawal to furnish clarification over the incident in the House and punish the guilty.
Bhattarai sworn in as CA member
CA Chairman Subas Nembang on Sunday administered oath of office and secrecy to Manamohan Bhattarai as a CA member.
Nepali Congress had recommended the name of party´s central member Bhattarai for a CA seat that had been lying vacant after the death of party president Girija Prasad Koirala on March 20. Late Koirala was elected under proportional electoral system.
Top leaders fail to show up at House meeting
Top leaders of the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML failed to show up at the House meeting on Sunday.
According to Speaker Nembang, the leaders have assured that they would attend the House meeting on Monday. They had informed Nembang about their inability to attend the House meeting on Sunday due to ongoing party meetings.
NC had called joint meeting of the party´s Central Working Committee and Parliamentary Party to discuss concurrent political issues on Sunday.
Related story
Dahal warns of fresh conflict as his relation sours with PM Oli
-1200x560-1774606010.webp)
-1200x560-1783685616.webp)
