An alliance of the opposition parties has decided to organise a mass meeting at Khulamanch in the Capital on January 1 in its latest move to protest the constitution amendment proposal.

The bloc of the second largest party CPN-UML and small forces has been disrupting Parliament demanding the government announce the election date by withdrawing the “anti-national” amendment bill.

The meeting of the opposition parties held at the UML office in Singha Durbar decided on Monday that the ongoing struggle in Parliament and on the streets would continue until the government withdraws the amendment proposal.

The meet of the opposition alliance held before the House meeting was stalled on Monday decided to organise a rally followed by marches from different parts of Kathmandu Valley in order to express solidarity with the demonstrations taking place in different parts of the country. Strikes and protests are being staged in the districts of Province 5 including Gulmi and Rupandehi after the government registered the proposal on November 29 to split the province.

Deputy leader of the UML Parliamentary Party (PP) Subas Nembang said the meeting decided to strengthen the agitation both in Parliament and outside.

Parties in the opposition alliance led by the UML are CPN-ML, Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Nepa Party, Rastriya Janamorcha, Pariwar Dal, Rastriya Janamukti Loktantrik Party and the Madhes Samata Party.

In the meeting of the UML PP that followed party Chairman KP Sharma Oli told lawmakers that the possibility of the opposition defeating the bill in Parliament would be gauged.

Lawmaker Rewati Raman Bhandari said Oli told them that the obstruction would continue until the government withdraws the bill.

Students urge prime minister to withdraw bill

KATHMANDU: Student unions affiliated to the opposition parties on Monday urged Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to withdraw the constitution amend-ment bill arguing that it “does not serve the country’s interests”.

A delegation led by All Nepal National Free Students’ Union Chairperson Nabina Lama submitted a memorandum to PM’s Chief Political Adviser Chakrapani Khanal along with some letters sent by students from several parts of the country.

Lama urged Khanal to convey their message to the prime minister to seek an alternative in consensus among the parties by withdrawing the proposal registered by the government amid the protest of the opposition parties including the CPN-UML.

Student unions aligned with the parties mainly the UML, the CPN (ML), Rastriya Janamorcha and the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party have been organising protest programmes against the amendment proposal.