Nepal must expedite constitution writing process to take the country on the path of prosperity, peace and stability, the Communist Party of Nepal-UML, part of the ruling coalition said today.
Addressing the inaugural session of 9th general convention of the party, top leaders emphasised the need for wider collaboration and unity among the political parties to accomplish constitution drafting in six months time.
Last year, the Nepali Congress (NC), which emerged as the largest party in the general elections, had promised to draft a new constitution within a year of forming the government in order to institutionalise the achievements of the peoples' movement of 2006, including federalism and republican system.
Those, who addressed the session includes party chairman and former Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, former Prime Minister and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, Parliamentary Party leader K P Sharma Oli and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam.
Nepal has already passed through the phase of semi-colonialism and semi-feudalism and the country has reached the stage of capitalist movement, they said.
Nepal is now a free, sovereign and independent country and there is no need to fight against colonial and feudal forces as we have already passed through these stages, they added.
Senior leaders of other major parties including acting president of Nepali Congress Ramchandra Poudyal and president of Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum-Democratic Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar also addressed the meet.
A large number of representatives of political parties from India, Russia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and representatives of diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu, who were invited to the inaugural session, extended best wishes on behalf of their respective countries.
Senior leader of ruling BJP Vijay Jolly and Pallab Sengupta of CPI(M) were among the Indian representatives who attended the meet.
"Nepal should establish new industrial zones and economic development should get top priority as it would help the country to get rid of its unemployment problem which is causing plight of a large number of youths," Jolly said, adding "India is ready to assist Nepal towards that direction".
"A peaceful, stable and prosperous Nepal will also be in the interest of India," he added.
Some 2,214 delegates of the party from all 75 districts of the country were attending the five-day long general convention that would elect a 149 member central committee.
Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leader of the party K P Sharma Oli are vying for the post of party chairman to be elected at the convention.
