KATHMANDU, Jan 3: The ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Maoist Center) have made an informal understanding to delay tabling the constitution amendment bill in parliament for a few more days.

The ruling parties have made an informal understanding to wait at least until the rally of various opposition parties scheduled for Friday in Kathmandu after receiving indication that the UML would not continue obstruction in parliament for an indefinite period. “As the UML leaders present in the three party meeting today [Monday] did not give any indications that they would indefinitely obstruct the House, we expect that they would lift House obstruction after their Friday rally,” said a senior leader of the ruling party.

The UML leaders present in the three-party meeting on Monday had stressed continuing negotiations to find amicable solution to the deadlock.

“The ruling parties are not in favor of sidelining the opposition parties while amending the constitution. Since the UML is also likely to become flexible, I personally see some kind of solution in the days ahead,” said the ruling party leader, asking not to be named. 

The meeting called by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to find ways to lift House obstruction was attended by NC leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Paudel, Maoist Center leaders Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Narayan Kaji Shrestha and UML leaders K P Oli and Bam Dev Gautam. 

The meeting had failed to make any headway in lifting the House obstruction as the ruling and opposition parties repeated their stances. The ruling parties had refused to withdraw or shelve the amendment bill already tabled in the parliament, while the main opposition, UML, had insisted that the bill must be shelved, if not withdrawn altogether to lift its obstruction. 

Talking to media persons, UML Chairman Oli said they would not withdraw House obstruction until the amendment proposal was withdrawn. “We don't have any big demand. We just want withdrawal of the amendment bill,” said Oli.

NC leader Paudel said they are yet to reach any understanding on lifting House obstruction. “But all parties are unanimous that they should reach to some kind of understanding. It is now up to the speaker to decide whether to allow tabling of the bill. But we are yet to reach to any consensus,” he further said.

 
• nepali congress
 
• cpn (maoist center
 
• constitution amendment bill
 
• delayed