JANAKPUR, Sept 14: Although the parliament rejected the controversial constitution amendment bill, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba reaffirmed his pledge to amend the constitution and promised to do it under his party's leadership.
Addressing the press in Jankapur on Wednesday, Deuba also projected his party Nepali Congress (NC) as true friend of Madhesi people and claimed that the party fully supports the Madhesi cause. But as usual, he was also quick to lambast the main opposition CPN-UML and its chairman KP Oli for "conspiring to bring conflict between Madhesi and hill communities."
Pledge and reality
"I had personally visited Oli's residence and requested him to respect the feelings of the Madhesi people and vote in favor of constitution amendment," said Prime Minister Dueba, who is also the president of Nepali Congress. "But it is unfortunate that he did not listen.
On August 21, the second constitution amendment bill was rejected as the ruling parties could not garner the requisite two-thirds majority in the 592-member parliament. He said NC was helpless although it wanted to help the people of Madhes due to the failure to garner the required votes in favor of the amendment bill.
"This is why the people of Madhes should learn to identify the political parties who work for their rights. They should ensure victories of such parties in the upcoming elections," added Deuba, urging people to vote his party.
The prime minister also promised to develop Janakpur into a trade-hub and said businesspersons in the district no longer have to rely on Mahottari and Siraha routes for trade with India once the Jatahi trade route reopens.
Senior NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel, on the other hand, promised to develop Janakpur as a tourist hub and urged people to vote his party to victory.
