Kathmandu, November 29
Prime Minister Prachanda claimed on Tuesday that the Madheshi Morcha has already given its consent to the draft of the government-sponsored Constitution Amendment Bill.
He said the government will soon register the Bill in the House after making a decision to this effect through the Council of Ministers.
Prachanda, speaking at Tuesday’s politburo meeting of the Maoist party, said he had talks with Morcha leaders, including Upendra Yadav, on the issue of amendment. He added that they all have agreed to back the Constitution amendment bid (with criticism) and go for elections regardless of whether the Parliament passes the Bill or not.
Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha had said that the government should not proceed with the amendment process if Morcha is not on board. Of late, Prachanda has also been saying that it’s futile to register a Constitution amendment proposal in the Parliament if Madheshi Morcha does not support it.
At its meeting on Monday, Madheshi Morcha said it has no knowledge about the draft Bill that the government is planning to present in the Parliament, so there’s no question of supporting it before its registration in the House.
Prachanda, who is also chair of the CPN-Maoist Centre, which leads the present government, claimed on Tuesday that they have reached an understanding with Madheshi Morcha on the amendment bid.
He went on to claim that even the main opposition CPN-UML is positive. I have held talks with UML leadership, Prachanda said, adding: UML leaders said they can’t suppor the bid. But they also asked me to register the amendment proposal.
Prachanda told the meeting that the Parliament may pass the Bill with UML support.
