Nepal Parliament divided over amendment bill

The deliberation over the amendment being presented on Monday for voting has divided the Nepal Parliament into two factions with opposition alliance in against the long ago presented bill.

The parliamentary meeting, which lasted for about four-and-half hours on Sunday, saw the deliberation between 50 lawmakers over various clauses presented forward for amendment. The amendment proposal will go for voting is underway.

Meanwhile, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has issued a whip to all its Members of Parliament to vote against the Constitutional amendment proposal tabled in the Parliament.

The amendment proposal, which is tabled in the parliament and has completed the step of deliberation, will need a clear two-third majority to have it endorsed.

Currently, in Nepal Parliament, there are 592 and the government will need 395 to endorse the bill.

During the parliamentary meeting on Sunday, lawmaker Chin Kaji Shrestha from ruling Nepali Congress claimed the amendment proposal will include all and address all.

"Don't we need to make this Constitution acceptable to all? Is this the Constitution made only by Nepali Congress? Is the Constitution only for Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), Maoist Centre and RPP (Rastriya Prajatantra Party)? Isn't this the Constitution of Madhesi, of Tharu, of Muslim, of Indigenous groups, of Women's and so-called Dalits, minorities and privileged groups?" Nepali Congress Law Maker Chin Kaji Shrestha questioned opposition.

"To include the voice of all the people and as per the need of the time we should keep on amending the constitution to keep all happy. Constitution is not the draft which can remain unchanged," NC lawmaker Shrestha added.

Prem Suwal from the opposition alliance, standing against the amendment, claimed the attempt of making the amendment prior to the final phase of election to be a great mistake demanded for its swift withdrawal.

"The amendment proposal is not as per the permeable of the constitution. The constitution amendment seems to be brought to hold the final rounds of the local polls in the province no. 2. Does the government mean to state province no. 2 as a different state? The elections in 6 out of 7 provinces were held on the basis of this constitution and to hold the election in province no. 2 constitution amendment is must, why?" Suwal questioned over amendment proposal.

But the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is seen far from the mark. The previous opposition alliance has 197 votes which consequently can fail the amendment bill as the ruling alliance has 358 lawmakers and the RPP which has torn apart into two factions has 37 votes who have decided to vote against the amendment bill failing the amendment bill.

The constitution amendment, which was the bottom line for the participation of madhesh based agitating parties, is now to be addressed and the agitating parties have decided to go for the election whether the amendment bill passes or fails.(ANI)

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