Nepal Constitution amendment after PM Dahal's India, US visits

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's chief political advisor Chandra Prakash Khanal has said the government would begin the Constitution amendment process once Dahal returns from visits to India and the United States.

Prime Minister Dahal is leaving for a visit to India in mid-September and then to the US to attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, reports the Himalayan Times.

"We wanted to begin the Constitution amendment process before the Prime Minister leaves for India. But, that could not happen," said Khanal.

He said that the amendment process was delayed as presently parties and stakeholders were holding discussions over the issue.

Khanal reiterated that the amendment was a must to address concerns of Madhesi parties.

He also said that he hopes the main opposition party, CPN-UML , would extend its support in the amendment.

On his part, UML leader Kiran Gurung, however, said the current time was not appropriate to amend the Constitution adding that the party would make its official view over the issue once the government made a clear proposal for the same.

Madhesis have been protesting for a long time for amendment in the seven-province model proposed in the new Constitution that divides their ancestral land and politically marginalizes them .

The Madhesi parties had extended support to a new alliance of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress (NC) only because they had promised to address their concerns by amending the Constitution.