Nine Nepal parties to obstruct Constitution amendment bill

An alliance of nine-opposition parties in Nepal today decided to obstruct the Constitution amendment bill that seeks to address the demands of agitating Madhesi parties in the Parliament.
A meeting of the opposition parties, led by the CPN-UML, held here decided to obstruct the House proceedings if the government tries to push the amendment bill through, Rastriya Janamukti Party-Loktantrik- lawmaker Shiva Lal Thapa said.
The opposition, however, said they will allow the proceedings to run if other issues such as election bill and impeachment motion were discussed in the Parliament.
The meeting also decided to hold further talks with ruling parties and United Democratic Madhesi Front on the disputed issues including the amendment bill.

The government has tabled the Constitution amendment bill in the Parliament in order to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties, that mainly include re-demarcation of provincial boundary and citizenship issues.
The Madhesi parties have relaunched agitation to oppose the local body election announced by the Election Commission on Monday.

Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a six-month- long agitation from September 2015 to February last year in which more than 50 people were killed.
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Normal life was disrupted in southern Nepal districts as the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) called a general strike to protest against the announcement of local elections.

Transport service came to a halt in most of the Terai districts. Educational institutions and factories were closed for the day.
Tension erupted in Birgunj after the UDMF cadres took out a rally calling the shutdown in the city.
The agitated cadres also burned tyres at various places in the city, obstructing traffic.
In Saptari, schools, offices, markets and transportation were shut down by the UDMF cadres. The Madhesi cadres pelted stones at the office of the Rajbiraj Municipality to enforce the shutdown.