Kathmandu, December 28
The ruling CPN-Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress have proposed deciding the fate of the Constitution Amendment Bill through the Parliament. They forwarded this proposal during a meeting with the main opposition CPN-UML, which has been obstructing the Parliament demanding withdrawal of the Bill, rejected the proposal outright.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the three parties, Prime Minister Prachanda and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba asked the UML to agree on the amendment process if it does not agree on issues incorporated in the amendment proposal. They both asked the main opposition to remove obstructions in the Parliament.
Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi proposed: Let’s put forth points of our disagreement if we — the government and the opposition — cannot reach a deal on issues. Let us sort it out through the Parliament.
DPM Bimalendra Nidhi: Let’s put forth points of our disagreement if we cannot reach a deal. Let us sort it out through the Parliament.
But the UML said it will remove the obstructions only if the government initiates the process for conducting elections.
UML Chair KP Oli: It’s okay if you want to talk about elections. We will not let House resume if your focus is on amendment
Nidhi quoted UML Chair KP Oli as saying: It’s okay if you want to talk about elections. We will not let the Parliament resume if your focus is on amendment.
UML Vice-chair Bhim Rawal also said the Constitution Amendment Bill is unacceptable.
At the meeting, PM Prachanda asked the UML to either opt for accord or discord. Rawal said: We had a feeling that PM is trying to engage in politics of negation. We asked PM to clarify which path he will follow — the path of accord or discord.
The three parties also discussed local elections at the meeting. Centre leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the three parties are positive on conducting local level elections. Despite this, they are yet to figure out when to announce poll-date.
