Valley
Ruling, agitating parties to form new taskforce
A new taskforce comprising representatives of the governing Maoist Centre-Nepali Congress alliance and the agitating parties is expected to start fresh negotiations, possibly from next week, in a bid to settle the disputed issues of the constitution.A new taskforce comprising representatives of the governing Maoist Centre-Nepali Congress alliance and the agitating parties is expected to start fresh negotiations, possibly from next week, in a bid to settle the disputed issues of the constitution.
According to leaders, the taskforce will, after negotiations, prepare a draft proposal for constitution amendment.
The government is planning to register a constitution amendment proposal in Parliament by mid-October to address the concerns raised by the Madhesi and Janajati parties. Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Co-chair Rajendra Shrestha said that the taskforce will be announced soon after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi returns from New Delhi.
Nidhi, who is in the Indian capital as a special envoy of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, is scheduled to return home on Monday.
“We hope that the taskforce will start its work from next week,” said Shrestha. “The government side appears positive about resolving the differences at the earliest.”
Shrestha said the taskforce will bring a new proposal to address the concerns of the agitating parties, particularly on the issues related to restructuring of state, provincial representation in the Upper House and citizenship.
The taskforce will also seek to make a common position on local body restructuring.
The governing parties and the Madhes-based parties have collectively opposed the Local Body Restructuring Commission (LBRC)’s proposal to form 565 local units, saying the LBRC’s work is unscientific and that reducing the number of local units to 565 will make it difficult for the general public to access state facilities and services.
The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, has been demanding major changes in state restructuring with at least two provinces in the Tarai plains. The Madhesi parties have also demanded that provincial representation in the Upper House be determined on the basis of population.
The governing and agitating parties are planning to resolve the internal differences first before reaching out to the parties in opposition.
Maoist leaders said the taskforce would start its work even if the main opposition CPN-UML, refuses to join the negotiation process.