Miscellaneous

Constitution drafting process: Parties adamant as deadlock continues

Published at : November 21, 2014

Updated at : November 21, 2014 10:30

Kathmandu

Sticking to their respective positions, both ruling and opposition fronts have adopted wait-and-see approach as deadlock continues to cripple constitution drafting process. Cross-party leaders say both sides are waiting the move of another side and there are no signs of showing flexibility to reopen the meeting of Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (PDCC), which has been suspended for an indefinite period.

There have not been any negotiations among parties since Monday after ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML submitted the signatures of 43 lawmakers, further backing their joint proposal on contentious issues of new constitution, which has irked the opposition parties.

PDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, who is also senior Maoist leader, has publicly said that he will not call the PDCC meeting until parties reach an agreement. Ruling parties are of the view that Bhattarai should call the PDCC meeting and pass the proposal to Constituent Assembly (CA) respecting the majority members of his own committee.

NC Joint-General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka said Bhattarai has no option other than sending their joint proposal to full House CA. He said the PDCC chairman should have taken their proposal in a normal way instead of making it more complicated. He is of the view that instead of cross-party talks, Bhattarai should call PDCC meeting as soon as possible.

It seems that ruling and opposition parties have no enthusiasm to sit for talks and find a solution. Some leaders of ruling and opposition parties are preparing to start informal talks from Friday but there have been no preparations for formal talks. Opposition parties will remain busy in their own programmes from Friday, while some of the key ruling party leaders are still outside the Kathmandu valley. “It seems that parties are not interested in talks and are solidifying their respective positions,” said Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, adding that he would begin talks with party leaders to salvage the constitution drafting process. Soon after the Saarc Summit, opposition front plans to intensify its protest.

PDCC Chairman Bhattarai is continuing his consultation with legal eagles and leaders of fringe parties as well as lawmakers of ruling parties, but that has been insufficient to end the deadlock. On Thursday, Bhattarai held consultations with CA Chairman Subas Nembang, some lawmakers of ruling parties and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal chairman. All of these leaders urged Bhattarai to move ahead on the basis of consensus.