Three parties agree to bring new amendment bill; Madhesi parties to allow CA to function
The three major parties - CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) - have agreed to retract the supplementary constitution amendment bill introduced in the Constituent Assembly (CA), and bring a new bill which, leaders say, will address the issues raised by Madhesi parties.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between the three parties and Madhesi parties on Sunday. With the major parties agreeing to bring another amendment bill, the Madhesi parties - Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Terai-Madhesh Loktrantrik Party and Sadbhawana Party - have agreed to allow the Constituent Assembly to proceed with the amendment process.
"I can tell you that the CA will function smoothly from tomorrow," Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' told reporters after the meeting held in Singha Durbar. According to him, a meeting of the seven-party alliance tomorrow morning will finalise the draft of the bill, which will be forwarded to the Council of Ministers for approval.
The CA meeting is scheduled to take place Monday.
"We are mainly discussing the term 'the will of Madhesis for autonomous state'," Dahal said, informing that the three parties have agreed to amend the Article 144 also (along with article 138), incorporating a provision to make the Nepal Army an inclusive organisation.
Likewise, MJF coordinator Upendra Yadav said that the three parties had agreed to introduce the amendment bill as per the agreement between the government and the Madhesi parties signed early this year. "We have put our points before the three parties. If the bill fails to ensure what was agreed then, we till continue our protest," he said.
Nepali Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel said the Madhesi parties could table a proposal for amendment in the bill if it didn't satisfy them. He said the seven parties would try to bring a bill that will be acceptable to the parties.
The positive development came after eight days of continuous obstruction in the CA, and hectic political parleys to end the deadlock.
The Madhesi parties have been demanding constitutional guarantee of 'autonomous Madhes province' and 'group entry' of the Madhesis into Nepal Army. nepalnews.com mk July 06 08
