Miscellaneous
No change in statute at the cost of national interest, UML insists
Reiterating its position, the CPN-UML has said that the party will not let the constitution be amended “against the national interest”.Tika R Pradhan
Reiterating its position, the CPN-UML has said that the party will not let the constitution be amended “against the national interest”.
The party has also been trying to consolidate its stance also by uniting the other parties that supported its government till its last days.
A recent meeting of the opposition parties at Singha Durbar had decided against amending the constitution if that will not serve the interest of Nepal and Nepali people.
The meeting also decided to forge an alliance that could be either a front or a working alliance to safeguard the national interest and ensure the implementation of the constitution.
Revealing the decisions of the standing committee meeting that lasted for eight days, the party had on Wednesday stated that the party was principally not against amendments in the constitution as that was dynamic document.
Annoyed by the abrupt U-turn of CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has accused Dahal of being influenced by foreign forces and being greedy for the power.
The UML chairman has also been dropping hint that his party, whose support is essential to amend the constitution, will fulfil the demands of the agitating Madhesi and Janajati forces.
UML Vice-chairman and former deputy prime minister Bhim Rawal, who is close to party’s senior leader Madhav Nepal, has been strongly opposing the amendment proposal.
While talking to the media at the Tribhuvan International Airport before heading for a health check-up to Bangkok on Thursday, the UML chairman, however, said his party was unaware of plans to amend the constitution. Oli said he had learnt from the newspapers that some foreigners were interested in amending the constitution.
The government is preparing to present the constitution amendment bill at Parliament before Prime Minister Dahal embarks on India visit on September 15.
The UML has also decided to deploy all its party committees to monitor government’s activities to ensure the state coffers would not be misused.
Meanwhile, PM Dahal, who had claimed that he would float a formula that could convince all the major parties for amendments to the constitution, has not yet revealed his plans.
Dahal, however, has been holding talks with different parties, including Madhesi and Janajati forces, and the main opposition CPN-UML.