Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reiterated that the constitution amendment bill will not be withdrawn.

The main opposition CPN-UML, which has objected to the government move of registering the amendment bill saying it is against national interest, has continued protests in the streets and Parliament.

The UML has maintained that there is no scope of talks until the government withdraws the bill. 

“Our bottom line is withdrawal of the bill, which is unconstitutional and against national interest,” said UML secretary Gokarna Bista, an influential UML leader close to senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Asked what could be the solution to this deadlock then, Bista said discussions could begin only after the government withdraws the bill. 

While addressing a function in Dang, PM Dahal said that the amendment bill could be revised, if need be, but it won’t be taken back. 

PM Dahal’s Chief Political Adviser Chakrapani Khanal said if the stand-off continues, the government would declare dates for local elections and lead the country towards implementation of the constitution, leaving the proposal inactive.

A politburo meeting of governing CPN (Maoist Centre), which concluded on Tuesday, decided to make all-out efforts to get the amendment bill endorsed in Parliament.

However, the chances of 

the bill getting endorsed look slim amid Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s stance against it. The Madhes-based parties, at whose insistence the bill was introduced, 

are yet to make up their mind, as they are still blowing hot and cold. 

The Nepali Congress, the key coalition partner in the Dahal government, itself is a divided house when it comes to the amendment proposal, as many senior leaders in the party are opposing it. 

On top of that, some leaders within the Maoist Centre, including Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, have also objected to the amendment bill. Amid all this, PM Dahal seems to be a “wait and see” mode for some time.

Govt trying to build consensus: PM’s aide

KATHMANDU: The government is trying to build consensus among political parties to push the constitutional amendement bill through Parliament, chief political advisor to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said.

“Efforts are on to find a common ground on the amendment bill. And the amendment proposal would be passed with the consensus among the political parties,” Chakrapani Khanal said at a programme in the Capital on Wednesday. The bill will be dissolved if it fails to garner a two-third majority in Parliament, he said, but even if that happens “the PM need not resign.” 

“There is a rumour that the constitution amendment proposal will split Province 5. There is anger and dissatisfaction among people over the proposal to  realign Province 5. We should respect these voices,” he said. 

Claiming the amendment proposal as “unconstitutional”, CPN (UML) leader Gokarna Bista declared that the protest would continue both in and out of Parliament until the government revoked it. 

Speaking on the occasion, leader of the Madhesi Morcha Raj Kishor Yadav termed the amendment bill a positive move from the government to widen acceptance of the constitution. He said the Morcha would lend its support in getting the proposal passed in Parliament if its contents are revised after discussions. (PR)

Constitution amendment proposal could be revised: PM Dahal

POST REPORT

DANG/KAILALI, DEC 7 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the constitution amendment proposal could be revised. 

“I am ready to hold talks with the political parties to make changes in the proposal,” Dahal said in Dhang on Wednesday. 

The prime minister was in the district to lay the foundation stone for the proposed Sishaniya-Gobardiha bridge.

The amendment bill, according to PM Dahal, was registered in Parliament to resolve the problems of Madhesis, Tharus, Magars and other ethnic minorities.

“The amendment proposal was brought to address the demands of the dissatisfied groups,” he said while urging the opponents of the proposal to stop their protests.

The main opposition, CPN-UML, and its sister organisations had enforced banda in Dang on Wednesday to protest the amendment bill that proposes splitting Province 5.  

PM Dahal also made a brief stopover in Kailali where he addressed an event where he said that his government was committed to amend the constitution to hold the three-tier elections.  

The dates of the elections will be declared after amending the constitution, he said.

UML activists protest against PM Meanwhile, police rounded 39 UML activists for trying to obstruct the event attended by the prime minister in Dhangadhi, Kailali. Superintendent of Police Arjun Chand said the UML district chairman, Dhirgha Sodari, was among those arrested from the scene 

for disorderly act. They were held in custody for nearly three years before being released late in the afternoon.