The Constituent Assembly (CA) on Wednesday began deliberations on the final draft of constitution prepared on Sunday. Top leaders of major political parties put forth their views on the draft constitution on the first day.   

Speaking at the CA meet on the draft constitution, Nepali Congress (NC) President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala appealed to all the agitating parties and groups to come to consensus. He said there are still rooms for modification of the draft constitution. 

“I am still ready to incorporate the concerns raised by Tharu Madhesi and Janajati.  Genuine demands could be addressed in the constitution,” said the PM.  However, he added that all the demands of all parties and groups could not be fulfilled as the constitution is a document of compromise.  

He further said that the constitution drafting process should not be stopped as the remaining issues can be addressed even the promulgation of new constitution.

 CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli said there has been conspiracy to instigate the violence and sabotage the constitution drafting process. He said the genuine concerns could be addressed through the amendment proposal. As the constitution is a draft of compromise, concerns of all could not be included in it. “There have been attempts to sabotage the constitution drafting process, create communal disharmony and anarchy,” he said.

 Expressing his views on the draft constitution, UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal said there are still rooms to address the concerns raised by Tharu, Madhesi, Janjati and other constituencies.  He urged the government to call the agitating parties for talks. 

He added the genuine demands of the disgruntled groups should be addressed while keeping the constitution drafting process unhindered. 

"No one can stop the ongoing constitution drafting process," Dahal said.  “I urge the Tharu and Madhesi Morcha to remain in this process.”

 Madhesi Janadhikari Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar said the seven province model has not addressed the demands of Madhesi and Tharu. 

He noted that less number of seats of Madhes-based parties does not mean that the issues of Madhesi and Tharu are meaningless. “If things are looked in this way, it would be a historic blunder.  I urged the top leaders of major parties to address the issue as soon as possible. Please address the Tharu constituencies," he added. 

He warned of boycotting the ongoing constitution drafting process if the final draft of constitution is not modified to address the demands of Tharu and Madhesi. He deplored the Kailali incident reiterating the need to address the demands of Tharu.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party -Nepal (RPP-N) Chairman Kamal Thapa blamed the syndicate mentality of four parties for the current crisis facing the country. He said all the issues including Monarchy and secularism should be discussed in the CA. "Please provide us a space, otherwise we will have to take a different path," he said.