Nepal Parliament divides during deliberation over amendment bill

By Binod Prasad Adhikari

Kathmandu [Nepal], Aug 21 (ANI): The deliberation over the amendment, set to be presented on Monday for voting, has divided the Nepal Parliament into twofactions.

The parliamentary meeting which lasted for about four and half hours on Sunday witnessed a heated argument among 50 lawmakers over various clauses presented forward for amendment.

The amendment proposal will go for voting on Monday in the parliamentary meeting called at 1 pm.

Lawmaker Chin Kaji Shrestha from ruling Nepali Congress claimed the amendment proposal will include all and address all.

"Don't we need to make this Constitution acceptable to all? Is this the Constitution made only by Nepali Congress? Is the Constitution only for Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), Maoist Center and RPP ( Rastriya Prajatantra Party)? Isn't this the Constitution of Madhesi, of Tharu, of Muslim, of Indigenous groups, of Women's and so-called Dalits, minorities and privileged groups?,"Shrestha questioned opposition.

"To include the voice of all the people and as per the need of the time we should keep on amending the constitution to keep all happy. Constitution is not the draft which can remain unchanged," he added.

Prem Suwal from the opposition alliance standing against the amendment said the attempt of making the amendment prior to the final phase of election will be big mistake and demanded for its swift withdrawal.

"The amendment proposal is not as per the permeable of the constitution. The constitution amendment seems to be brought to hold the final rounds of the local polls in the province no. 2. Does the government mean to state province no. 2 as a different state? The elections in 6 out of 7 provinces were held on the basis of this constitution and to hold the election in province no. 2 constitution amendment is must, why?" Suwal questioned over amendment proposal.

The amendment proposal which is tabled in the Parliament and has completed the step of deliberation will need a clear two-third majority to endorse it.

Currently, in Nepal Parliament there are 592 lawmakers and the government will need 395 votes to endorse the bill.

But the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is seen far from the mark. The previous opposition alliance has 197 votes which consequently can fail the amendment bill as the ruling alliance has 358 lawmakers and the RPP which has torn apart into two factions has 37 votes who have decided to vote against the amendment bill.

The constitution amendment which was the bottom line for the participation of madhesh based agitating parties is now to be addressed and the agitating parties has decided to go for the election whether the amendment bill passes or fails.(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI