NC for settling issue first; UML opposes
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KATHMANDU, Aug 4: Serious dispute has surfaced between the two major ruling partners Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML as the constitution making process enters a crucial stage.
The NC has now stood for resolving the issue of delineating provinces before finalizing the draft constitution while UML leaders have strongly opposed it, saying any move aimed at delaying the constitution is unacceptable to the party.
NC leaders said not making any changes to the draft constitution would be tantamount to undermining public feedback while UML leaders maintained that flouting the 16-point deal would mean "opening Pandora's Box" and derailing the constitution making process.
UML Standing Committee member Shankar Pokharel accused the NC of flouting the 16-point deal to prolong its stay in government. He said his party is strongly against delaying the constitution.
Pokharel went on to claim that his party may walk out of the coalition if the NC tries to delay the constitution making process. "We are waiting and seeing whether the NC returns to the course set by the 16-point deal or insists on its new position," Pokharel told Republica. "If it doesn't abide by the deal, there is no point in the UML sticking to the present coalition."
In the 16-point deal, the major parties had agreed to promulgate the new constitution by committing to delineate the country into eight provinces and entrusting a high-level commission with recommending provincial borders. Likewise, they had agreed to allow the provincial assemblies to name the provinces themselves. Leaders said the parties had reached a tacit understanding to allow the UML to lead the new government.
Pokharel said NC's stand goes against the spirit of the political deal. The parties had then been discussing two options - either adopting the eight-province model as proposed by the UCPN (Maoist) or the six or seven-province model as suggested by the NC-UML coalition.
"We agreed to go for the eight-province model while the Maoists agreed to delineate the provinces after promulgation of the new constitution. It was done with a view to deliver the constitution without delaying it any further," said Pokharel.
According to him, UCPN (Maoist) leaders were ready to adopt the six-province model if the provinces were delineated before promulgation of the new constitution.
NC lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari said the NC stood for resolving the issue of delineation before finalizing the constitution as the 16-point deal has become irrelevant after preparation of the draft constitution. He also added that there has been qualitative change in the national context mainly after people from across the country raised strong voices on various issues such as citizenship, delineation of provinces and direct election for key political positions.
"NC was ready to make changes to the draft as no political party can ignore such a strong public voice," said Adhikari. "The party's new decision came after collection of public feedback as well as pressure from within the party."
Another NC leader Prakash Sharan Mahat, however, was against delaying the constitution on any pretext. He said efforts should be made to resolve the issue of delineating provinces before finalizing the constitution. He, however, said that the constitution should not be put on hold if various forces keep on disputing over the boundaries.
"There are some elements that are for finalization of delineation right now but they do not accept any practical solution," said Mahat. "So, the constitution shouldn't be delayed if there is no consensus on boundary.
