After much confusion and debates in the Constituent Assembly, it looks like the constitution will finally, finally be promulgated. But the public seems to be divided over the issue.
We asked a selected few about the concerns they have over the much anticipated finale that takes place at 5 pm on Sunday, September 20.
Aashu Sarraf, 21
Freelance Photographer
There is a high chance of a big riot taking place in Tarai. People here are agitated and they have a lot of anger in them. People who are in their late teens and twenties have grown up listening to the likes of Oli and Bamdev, who weren't very kind to us. These people think that the state doesn't want them, and they are obviously not happy about it. A lot of rumors are doing the rounds, like weapons have been brought here, and the state should be broken. Only recently, someone threw a petrol bomb at our house. All these things are not making a good impression on the public here. I know that not all demands made by the Madhesi people are reasonable, but at least if the leaders made an effort to directly address the public and convince them that things can be taken in a right path, then maybe something could have been possible. There is a big misunderstanding between the people, and they are very unhappy with the constitution. All I can do now is hope the situation gets better, because I've been hearing that people in Madhes plan on burning the constitution as an expression of their discontent.
Anita Thapa, 32,
Essential tests
Director, Sadbhawana Non-profit
The constitution that's going to come our way is from the majority democratic practice and not the work of a unanimous decision. Those Madhesi leaders who have left the process should be brought back in the process, as all the fronts – public, government, and the political parties – had some contribution in it. A lot of time, resources, and efforts have been invested, and it's better if the constitution is accepted by all. What we need to know is that constitution is a living document and amendments can be made time and again in consideration of the situation. So the flaws and loopholes should be corrected keeping in mind the thoughts and feelings, and also considering the demands of each and everyone. I consider it a good sign that a constitution will be in place otherwise there can be even more political turmoil. Besides that, there are still a lot of things we need to consider. There are youths who still have some misunderstanding regarding federalism, and we should take steps towards rectifying it. However, governance needs a constitution and I'm glad that one will finally be promulgated.
Bindu Sharma, 42
Social Activist
I think by now we can confidently say that our country will finally have a constitution. Considering the obstacles that we have had to get through and the number of years we have waited for this moment, this is a momentous occasion. I want to be optimistic about the situation and our future. From what I have read and heard, I'm satisfied about the rights that have been granted to women, children and minority groups. However at the same time we are all aware of the fact that not everybody feels this way. There still are many debates and discussion that need to take place. There are still many details that need to be smoothed out. So from here on, we should move ahead with caution. Instead of running away from the pressing issues, we should address them. This may be a big achievement but we have not come to the end of the road yet. We can't afford to lose sight of what is really important for the country. Unity is foremost and together we must work on the issues that need to be addressed.
Surya Prakash Rai, 30,
PhD Candidate
Madhesi people will surely protest the constitution. It's like Pandora's Box has been opened. Had all the people in the Pahad united, they could have protested as well, because the demands of the Janajatis have been bypassed. I think that if the government wants to avoid all these and promote long-term peace, they have to consider the demands and opinions of the three sides – Khas Aarya sanskriti, Madhesi sanskriti, and Janajati sanskriti. The demands of the Madhesi people might be considered to some extent because of compassion from India, but it's the Pahadi people that we need to be careful about. Because if you look at the history, the hilly landscapes were the starting point of rebellion, and a lot can happen if it's not taken care of. Hence, for long lasting peace, they have to be careful about how they're going to promulgate the constitution.
Karuna Shakya, 24
Student
The state of Tarai is definitely a major stress point for all of us who are hoping against hope for a successful constitution. The conditions in the capital may be peaceful but there are still bandhs, curfews and distress in that area and we shouldn't ignore that. This could pose as a major threat to the promise of a new constitution. Besides that, I'm disappointed that proposed suggestions to appoint a qualified Minister as well as to make sure all the leaders meet certain qualification criteria were over looked. Perhaps considering the present qualification of the leaders, they didn't want to enforce laws that might work against them. This is sad because if the leaders were qualified, there might have been more chances of progressive reforms and developments to look forward to. In this respect, I'm not very hopeful about the future of our government.
Pukar Nepali Bam, 28,
Academician
After all these years of waiting, it feels great to find to finally see the constitution on its way. I'm certainly happy about that, however, the way we reached this point is rather worrying. Even though the majority has passed the bills, we can't ignore the fact that there are many people out there who feel ostracized. Our leaders cannot afford to neglect this key fact. We can't have a portion of our population celebrating and another portion suffering or completely dismayed. I'm obviously referring to the Madhesi population who still fully stand by their demands. It's very important to include them from here on because if they are left out, there may be new wave of protests on its way. As a citizen, I would say this is my biggest concern.
