Nepal PM laments failure to draft new Constitution

Nepal's Prime Minister Sushil Koirala today said that he was saddened by the failure of political parties to promulgate the new Constitution by January 22 as promised to the people.
In a televised address to the nation this evening, Koirala expressed sadness over the failure of the Constituent Assembly (CA) to deliver the Constitution on the deadline date, a day after it expired.
He said that the CA was not able to practice democratic values completely while drafting the Constitution.
Koirala also urged political parties to shun violence and adopt peaceful means of dialogue and negotiations.
He said drafting a democratic constitution is his only goal and called upon all to cooperate with the government in drafting a federal, democratic and republican constitution at the earliest.

The prime minister said a democratic constitution would pave the way for Nepal towards attaining economic prosperity.

He said Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual country and nobody should undermine the social harmony.
Koirala expressed hope that the forthcoming Constitution would ensure the rights and welfare of women, Dalits, ethnic minorities, indigenous and marginalised people.
He said that the Constitution could not be delivered on the stipulated time frame due to the unnatural stance of few political parties and their attitude of undermining democratic procedures, he pointed out.
He also said that foreign investment is increasing in the country in recent times and hoped for political stability so that economic activity could rise. He hoped that Nepal will soon resolve its energy crisis.

The government's investment in the infrastructure development sector is also starting to bear fruit, he added.
Nepal has been facing a constitutional crisis for the last six years after the first Constituent Assembly was dissolved without promulgating the Constitution in 2012 meant to rebuild the country after a brutal 10-year civil war.