Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai has said that Madhesi Morcha’s demand of rewriting the new constitution is ‘serious and dangerous’.

The Morcha’s demand for rewriting the constitution shows their ill-intention and if they [Morcha] go on insisting this demand as their bottom-line, it can be clearly understood that they do not want solution through talks, claimed Minister Rai, who is also the government spokesperson.

“Rewriting the constitution is not possible,” said Minister Rai in an interaction in the Capital on Sunday. “No one has the right to rewrite the constitution as the Constituent Assembly vested with the task of writing the constitution has already been dissolved,” he said, adding, “This shows that Madhesi leaders have other hidden agendas rather than seeking solution.”

He also said that in order to create environment conducive for talks, the government has been working to address Madhesi Morcha’s demands like providing compensation to the families of persons deceased during Madhes agitation, free treatment to injured people and dismissing the cases filed against the protestors. He said the budget has been released towards that end.

He made it clear that there is no point in not implementing the constitution and holding elections in the name of forging consensus with the agitating sides.

Aiming at Nepali Congress’ dissatisfaction over not consulting with it [NC] before determining the date of elections, Minister Rai said, “This responsibility is what constitution has specifically stated and does not need discussions for reaching consensus.”

As the Constitution states that all elections should be held by January 21, 2018, we have fixed the election schedules accordingly, said Minister Rai.