Valley
Congress leaders warn against taking Hill districts off State 5
As the government delays the registration of a constitution amendment proposal, some Nepali Congress leaders have voiced strong concerns over the proposed splitting of Hill districts from Province 5 to form another Tarai-only state.Sarin Ghimire
As the government delays the registration of a constitution amendment proposal, some Nepali Congress leaders have voiced strong concerns over the proposed splitting of Hill districts from Province 5 to form another Tarai-only state.
Leaders of the governing party came down heavily on the government led by the CPN (Maoist Centre) for trying to change the boundaries of the state arguing that its residents are “content” with the present arrangement.
Pushpa Bhusal, a leader from Arghakhanchi, questioned the intentions of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for creating uncalled for instability in the name of amending the constitution.
“Why is the government hell bent on changing the boundaries of Province 5 which was completely fine? The government, on the other hand, chooses not to touch the actual disputed districts,” said Bhusal.
There are disputes over the alignment of three Tarai districts in the East and two in the West. The government says a commission will decide their fate later.
Shekhar Koirala, who recently visited locals and cadres from Province 5, said a majority of them were fine with the current provincial delineation. He added that the people of Rolpa and Pyuthan wanted to be in the same province as Dang, which shares borders with India. Rolpa, Pyuthan and Dang are currently in Province 5, but the government’s proposal separates Dang from the two.
The draft has it that Hill districts of Province 5 will be merged with Province 4 or 6, while areas between Bardiya and Nawalparasi in the plains will form Province 5. Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi and eastern parts of Rukum and Pyuthan would be realigned with either Province 4 or 6.
Leaders from Nawalparasi have also opposed the government’s move to change the federal boundaries. NC General Secretary Shashank Koirala deemed it impractical to shift all of Nawalparasi into Province 5. “Locals are happy with the way Nawalparasi was earlier
split between Provinces 4 and 5,” said Shashank, an elected lawmaker from the district.
The current federal structure has Nawalparasi split in half between Provinces 4 and 5. As leaders from the second largest CPN-UML also have similar concerns about the boundaries, some NC leaders want the government to take the main opposition into confidence before tabling the proposal. In order to avoid further instability, an agreement should be reached with the UML on charter amendment, said Shekhar, a lawmaker from Morang.
NC leader Prakash Man Singh has voiced caution whether the amendment proposal would be passed with the UML vehemently opposing it. “There is a faint possibility of all other major forces taken into confidence to muster the required number of votes in Parliament.”
If consensus remains elusive for passing the proposal, Singh wants the people to decide the matter. “As things stand, we are doomed to face instability. The most viable option would be to go to the polls with our agendas,” said Singh. He warned the parties about the dangers of a constitutional vacuum if the local, provincial and federal elections were not held within the next 14 months as provisioned by the constitution.