Kathmandu, December 19
After a struggle of sorts, the government-sponsored Constitution Amendment Bill is set to be included in the list of the Parliament’s businesses.
But opposition parties have said they will stand against the Bill in the Parliament.
In a bid to reach an understanding on the Bill, Speaker Onsari Gharti had convened a meeting of top leaders of three major parties. But the leaders held on to their respective stances at the meeting.
Emerging from the meeting, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, leader of the CPN-Maoist Centre and deputy prime minister, said they will include the amendment proposal in the list of the House’s businesses.
Mahara said: We wanted the proposal included in the list of businesses, regardless of whether the House passes it or not.
He said they will try to come to a conclusion within two days by giving continuity to discussions.
About 20 days ago, the government had registered the proposal in the Parliament. Opposition parties, including the main opposition CPN-UML, have been opposing this Bill and obstructing the Parliament.
UML Vice-chair Bamdev Gautam said their protest will depend on the manner in which the government presents the Bill in the Parliament.
At Monday’s meeting, leaders from the Centre and the Nepali Congress had asked UML to support the Bill. The UML said the Bill is unacceptable as it is unconstitutional. Centre and Congress leaders then asked the UML whether the party was positive on going for elections immediately.
After the meeting, Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel said Speaker has the authority to decide whether or not to include the Bill in the list of the House’s businesses.
