Shun differences, draft Nepal Constitution by deadline: Dy PM

To bring political stability, all political parties in Nepal must shun their differences and focus on drafting a new constitution by the January 22 deadline, Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh today said.
Singh, also the Minister for Local Development, said Nepal could not move forward with a prolonged transition period and political instability in the country.
"We should focus all our efforts towards writing a democratic constitution that would institutionalise the achievements of the past democratic movements so as to pave way for economic proseparity and development of the country," he said during a programme here to mark the 102nd birth anniversary of veteran democratic leader Dilli Raman Regmi.

He said a timely prmoulgation of constitution would be a true tribute to the late democratic leader.
Singh said Nepal is passing through a "sensitive and challenging era" in its history, and to come out of this it is essential to promulgate a democratic constitution by the deadline.
Despite abundant natural, including water, resources, Nepal is facing an energy crisis as well as lack of drinking water, which is a self-contradictory situation, he stressed.

Singh called all political parties, civil society members, mediapersons and intellectuals to shun differences and contribute towards drafting the constitution so as to end the ongoing political stalemate.

"We should keep aside personal interests as well as party interests and keep in mind the national interest of the country," said Singh.
Political parties in Nepal have set a January 22 deadline to draft a constitution so as to institutionalise the achievements of the Peoples Movement of 2006.