The meeting of legislature parliament is set to amend Interim Constitution on Saturday to shorten the process of constitution promulgation process. The House meeting scheduled to start at 3.00 pm today is expected to pass the 12th Interim Constitution Amendment Bill tabled by Minister without portfolio Post Bahadur Bogati on Friday.

The parliament session resumed on Friday after Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai expressed commitment to address the issues raised by  Broader Madhesi Front, an alliance of Madhesi lawmakers. The Madhesi lawmakers aligned to the Front had obstructed the House on Thursday saying that the three party agreement excluded the issues of Madhes.

Addressing the House on Friday, PM Bhattarai said the agreement on 11-state federal model was initial understanding among the parties and they were ready to address the demands different parties and lawmakers in the constitution.

Saying that it was compulsory to amend Article 70 of the Interim Constitution to promulgate new constitution by May 27, the PM requested Madhesi lawmakers not to onstruct the House.

After his address, chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal Upendra Yadav, who is leading the Front agreed to lift House obstruction.

Nepali Congress and CPN UML have been saying that review on 11 province federal model was unacceptable for them though PM Bhattarai and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have already given words to Mdhesi lawmakers that they would make changes in the proposed model. nepalnews.com