KATHMANDU, Aug 23 : Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has appealed to all the agitating parties to positively respond to his call for dialogue.
In his message to the nation on Sunday evening, Koirala also maintained that since the constitution drafting process is still under way, genuine demands of all agitating groups can be incorporated in the new statute. He also urged all political parties represented in the CA to put forth their suggestions on various issues of the new statute in the CA itself.
The prime minister’s call for dialogue comes in the wake of various parties expressing dissatisfaction over the delineation of federal states. CA members representing these parties have even chosen to walk out of the CA in protest of the proposed federal provinces.
Koirala said the constitution is a dynamic document that can be amended in tune with the changed context. The prime minister has also maintained that public feedback has been incorporated in the new statute and that the CA still remains open to accommodating the genuine concerns of all agitating groups.
“I am convinced that there is no issue that cannot be resolved through dialogue.”
Agitating parties urge Oli to create environment for talks
The appeal from the prime minister came after a decision by three major parties --Nepali Congress, UML and UCPN (Maoist) --- to put maximum efforts to address the concerns of various agitating parties including those based in Madhes. The decision was taken at a meeting held at the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar Sunday morning.
The top leaders had also invited Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Chairman Bijaya Gachchhadar to the meeting. MPRF-D, which had been supporting the three parties, had walked out of the alliance after the latter did not concede to the demand of agitating Tharu community.
According to UCPN (Maoist) Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the meeting dwelled on several issues, including the ongoing agitation of Madhesis, Tharus and indigenous nationalities. “Although we could not reach a decision on the issues, there has been an agreement to appeal to all the agitating parties for talks,” he said.
Madhesi parties and indigenous nationalities have taken to the streets for over a week now expressing their dissatisfaction over the federal map recently proposed by the major parties. They have maintained the proposed map does not take into account the issue of identity and economic viability.
In their latest decision, the major parties have come up with a seven-province model. The dissatisfaction has come mainly from the Tharu community as the map fails to ensure them a separate province.
Talks, constitution making process to go simultaneously
The three major parties have decided to take ahead the constitution making process while simultaneously holding talks with the agitating groups.
According to Shrestha, the parties took such a decision since the agreement reached with the agitating parties could be incorporated in the new statute through amendment. “There has been agreement to take ahead the constitution writing process while simultaneously putting efforts to address the genuine concerns of the agitating parties and groups,” he said.
The CA calendar of events has allocated three days for CA members to study the draft constitution, three days for theoretical discussions on issues of new statute and seven days for filing amendment proposals.
