Reach conclusion either on content or process: Speaker to parties

Published On: December 30, 2016 01:47 AM NPT

File photo. (Republica)

KATHMANDU, Dec 30: Both the ruling and the opposition parties have been unable to make any headway toward ending the month-long deadlock in parliament over the constitution amendment bill.

With the opposition parties rejecting the proposed amendment and demanding nothing less than withdrawal of the bill, the House meeting remains adjourned since December 1.

In the last one month, eight consecutive parliament meetings have been obstructed by the nine political parties including the main opposition CPN-UML. Stating that the constitution amendment bill registered in parliament by the government last month was against the national interest, unity and sovereignty, the opposition parties have demanded withdrawal of the bill. They have termed the amendment bill as the government's poly to delay the date for local elections.

It has become the routine of the opposition political parties to stand up from their respective seats immediately after the commencement of the House meeting by the speaker.

After a series of talks between the ruling and the opposition parties on amending the constitution failed to bring the parties to agreement, the government unilaterally registered the amendment bill in the House on December 15.

Meanwhile, Speaker Onsari Gharti informed that she has instructed the political parties to reach a conclusion one way or another prior to the next House meeting on Monday. "I have instructed the political parties to reach a conclusion either on content or on process. If they don't come up with a conclusion, I will schedule House meetings several times a day with only short pauses in between," Gharti told a delegation of journalists led by Reporters Club on Thursday.

She further said that she has also urged the chief whips of the major political parties to invite top leaders of their parties to the House meeting from Monday.

"Top leaders have promised me that they will do all to forge consensus within three days," said Gharti. Following obstruction of the House meeting by the opposition political parties on Thursday, the speaker has deferred the meeting till 1 pm Monday.