Amid controversy over whether the government actually handed over a constitution amendment proposal to the agitating Madhesi Morcha, officials say they are closer to an agreement and that the draft is almost ready.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is personally pushing to table an amendment to the constitution on the day marking the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on November 26, 2006, the Post has learned.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Shankar Nayak conceded that discussions were going along the lines of the media reports. Several media outlets reported on Sunday that the government had presented an amendment proposal to the Morcha, indicating its agreement to revert back to several provisions of the Interim Constitution, particularly on naturalised citizenship.

Nayak, however, said that the text of amendment had not been finalised. Prime Minister Dahal has been saying of late that the major parties are close to a deal with the agitating forces on four key issues.

PM Dahal held a discussion with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on Friday on the contents of the amendment. On Saturday, Dahal said at a programme that he had got a go-ahead to both prepare the amendment draft and to register a proposal with consensus among the major parties.

On allowing naturalised citizens to hold top constitutional positions, PM Dahal maintains that the government is working to find a solution close to the provision of the Interim Constitution.

Article 155 (2) of Interim Constitution said: “In order to be eligible for appointment to constitutional positions under this Constitution, one must be a citizen of Nepal either by descent or birth or as a naturalised citizen and has lived in Nepal at least for ten years.” However, according to the new constitution, only citizens by descent can hold the constitutional positions.

Following the controversy on Sunday, the government has been saying defensive that naturalised citizens will not be allowed to hold constitutional positions.

“Amendment of the constitution so as to make the naturalised citizens eligible for the head of the state and government is next to impossible. No,No,No,” senior CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha tweeted.

Jhala Nath Khanal, former prime minister and senior leader of the second largest party UML, claimed that the demands of Madhesi leaders, particularly on demarcation of provinces and citizenship, were unacceptable.

Talking to Radio Kantipur on Sunday, Khanal said the Morcha advocated a separate nation in Madhes and therefore its demand was not acceptable. He also rejected the demand for allowing naturalised citizens to become the head of state.