Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Friday promised the people that the country will soon get a democratic and inclusive Constitution.
“The upcoming Constitution will guarantee the freedom of all Nepalis including women, Dalit, Adivasi, Janajati, Tharu, Muslim, other minorities and marginalised [sections] to preserve and promote their identity, religion, language, culture and custom,” Prime Minister Koirala said in a nationally televised address to the nation on Friday evening.
In a veiled reference to those who were advocating a “consensus only” approach in drafting the statute, Mr. Koirala said a Constitution is a political document which should reflect the will of the people expressed through democratic means. “That is why I feel it is necessary to draft the Constitution through democratic norms and processes so as to give the country a way out of the long transition period.”
PM’s appeal
While blaming the Opposition for resorting to obstruction and general strike resulting in delay in promulgating the Constitution, the Prime Minister appealed to political parties to work together to meet the aspirations of the people and said he would work towards it.
Mr. Koirala’s address — his first ever after becoming Prime Minister a year ago — came a day after the Constituent Assembly (CA) failed to deliver the Constitution on January 22, the political parties’ self-imposed deadline. The CA was elected for four years in November 2013.
CA Chair resolve hailed
Ruling parties hailed the resolve of CA Chairman Subas Nembang that the Assembly’s meeting on Sunday would be “decisive,” which Mr. Nembang said that after the Opposition members obstructed the CA for the fifth consecutive day.
The opposition parties have been protesting against the move to constitute a Questionnaire Committee to resolve the disputed issues of Constitution through voting.
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachchhedar, meanwhile, expressed the hope that the parties would reach consensus on the disputed issues by Sunday. Mr. Gachchhedar, on Thursday, floated a proposal to end the current deadlock.
He had suggested that the two subjects on which the parties have agreed — electoral system and judiciary — be sent to the Drafting Committee. On the model of governance, NC and UML proposed an “improved” Westminster model also be sent to the committee, but with a note of dissent from the UCPN (Maoist), which is in favour of a directly elected executive president.
On the most intractable issue of federalism, Mr. Gachchhedar said the parties should discuss forming six to nine states, and decide the names and boundaries of new states in the next two months.
