KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Main opposition CPN-UML has decided to “respond appropriately” if the government “forcibly” registered the constitution amendment bill ignoring the UML’s objection.

The second-largest party UML has accused the government of trying to amend the constitution while going against its main duty, which is to implement the new constitution and hold three sets of elections by January 2018.

“It is unfortunate and contradictory in itself that the government, while deviating from its main responsibility, is indulged in unnecessary, inappropriate and detrimental activities under the pretext of amendment,” read a statement issued by UML spokesman Yogesh Bhattarai after the party’s standing committee meeting on Friday. “There is a conspiracy of inviting political crisis in the country as it would widen the division among the political forces and invite serious conflict in the society.”

The party’s top body has concluded that since the country was still in transitional stage, it wasn’t the time to make changes in the constitution. “The present transformed-parliament is not like the previous Constituent Assembly nor is it the Federal Parliament [as envisioned in the constitution]. The present government is also a government tasked to conclude the transitional period by holding elections within the period stated in the constitution,” it said. 

The party asked the government not to move ahead toward the wrong direction while ignoring the UML. “We make it clear that if the government forcefully moved ahead it will be retaliated,” read the statement.

While addressing a big gathering in Kathmandu on Thursday, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had instructed his party cadres to be prepared to launch a massive protest immediately after the government would register the bill in parliament.

 
• cpn
 
• uml
 
• constitution
 
• amendment
 
• objection