UML rebuffs PM appeal for amendment help

Published On: November 25, 2016 02:00 AM NPT By: Nabin Khatiwada/Ashok Dahal


Madhes-based parties give green signal for proposal

KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has yet again tried to appease the main opposition CPN-UML and consulted its leaders on Thursday even as the government prepares to register the constitution amendment bill in parliament in a day or two to address the demands of agitating Madhes-based parties.

According to Govinda Acharya, press advisor to the prime minister, PM Dahal asked for the support of the main opposition party in the amendment process. "The PM informed the UML leaders about the government's preparations for registering the statute amendment bill in parliament and asked the main opposition to support the process," said Acharya.

According to UML Vice-chairman Bhim Rawal, the PM asked for support in the amendment process but the opposition party turned down the request.

"He asked for our support in the constitution amendment process and for passing the supplementary budget and we categorically suggested to him not to move in the direction of statute amendment at a time when the political forces demanding amendment are themselves threatening the government with further protests," said Rawal, who was present at the meeting.

 

"We told him that the statute amendment could lead the country into further confusion and conflict as it is against the national interest.

We also said to him that the UML cannot support the government in bringing a supplementary budget as the government has not been listening to us regarding the agenda of greater national interests," Rawal added.    

Earlier, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, speaking at an interaction program organized by the party's sister wing, Youth Association Nepal, in the capital, said the government has been trying to bring in a statute amendment bill and a supplementary budget in parliament and reminded the government that his party is also there in parliament.
The government has prepared a draft bill to amend four provisions in the constitution related to provincial boundaries, marital naturalized citizenship, representation in the National Assembly and the languages of official business.

On Thursday evening, the PM held a meeting with his two deputies and the secretary at the Ministry of Law and Justice to discuss the bill. 

As the agitating Madhes-based parties, other than the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) led by Upendra Yadav, gave a green signal to the PM for registering the amendment bill, the PM has stepped up preparations for the bill.

"We are positive and hopeful about the amendment. We will vote in favor of the bill in parliament if it comes as it is since the PM has already briefed us at Wednesday's meeting," said Manish Suman, general secretary of Sadbhavana Party.

As per the briefing for the Madhesi leaders, the amendment bill would address the demands for changing the provincial boundaries by separating the hill districts of Province 5 from the Tarai districts and assigning the remaining task of provincial delineations to a commission.

The bill is to amend the existing provision on naturalized citizens that says naturalized citizenship will be provided as provided for in the Federal Law. The amendment will substitute the wording 'as per existing law' for 'Federal Law.' Likewise, the amendment will shorten the list of top official positions that are barred for naturalized citizens, leaving only the positions of president, prime minister and chief justice on the list.

In terms of representation in the National Assembly, the amendment bill will secure one seat each for Dalits, the disabled and women from each province and include a provision for allocating the remaining seats to the provinces on the basis of population.

The amendment bill will assign a Language Commission to determine the languages of official business.

However, the FSFN has been maintaining that it would not support the amendment proposal, stating that it does not go far enough in the direction of addressing their agenda.

"The FSFN has been saying that they will not support the amendment proposal but we hope Upendrajee (Yadav) will ultimately support it. We are trying to persuade him. As the government registers the bill in parliament, the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) will sit together and take a collective decision. We hope FSFN will accept the collective decision," said Suman. 


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