KATHMANDU, Dec 31: Deliberations on the constitution amendment bill have been extended in the hope of reaching an agreement with the agitating Madhesi parties.
The Madhesi parties have been staging protests within and outside the parliament saying that the amendment bill registered by the major parties is incomplete and does not address their demands. Though deliberations on the bill were expected to conclude Thursday, parties decided to extend the process till Sunday.
The bill was tabled in parliament two weeks ago but deliberations have been extended after the agitating Madhesi political parties protested against the bill. The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has been stressing that its demand for redrawing of electoral constituencies and review of provincial boundaries be carried out together.
UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held discussion with agitating UDMF leader and Chairman of Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur on Thursday afternoon and sought his support for endorsing the amendment bill. According to his secretariat, Dahal will meet Thakur again after holding a meeting with the Prime Minister K P Oli.
Deliberations on the bill continued Thursday amidst protest and sloganeering from the agitating parties.
Lawmakers participating in the deliberations on the amendment bill on Thursday suggested holding negotiations on the agitating parties' other issues of dissatisfaction after endorsing the bill at the earliest.
"The amendment proposal address most of the demands raised during the Madhes movement. Other issues could be discussed and addressed through further amendments," said Ananda Dhungana of Nepali Congress.
Rajendra Pandey and Ramhari Subedi of CPN-UML also said that constitution can be amended in future in line with the aspirations of the people. "Our neighbor India has amended its statute 122 times, we can also amend ours as and when needed," said Pandey.
Amanlal Modi of UCPN (Maoist) said that though the amendment proposal is not complete, there is no option other than to endorse it. "We can start debate and make another amendment on provincial delineation and other issues of disgruntlement," said Modi.
Milan Kumari Rajbamsi, Nagendra Kumal, Dilman Pakhrin, Amar Bahadur Thapa and Buddhiraj Bhandari among others had aired their views on the amendment bill, in the House meeting on Thursday.
According to a source close to the parliament secretariat, plans are to conclude deliberations on the bill on Sunday. Lawmakers will get 72 hours for registering amendment proposals on the bill once the deliberations conclude.
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