Nepali Congress‚ 14 parties block bill tabling process

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE


KATHMANDU: The government’s third attempt to table the interim constitution amendment bill so as to extend the Constituent Assembly (CA) term failed today, following obstruction by the Nepali Congress (NC) and 14 other political parties.

Now, the process of amending the interim constitution through normal process has ended with only four days remaining before the CA term expires. This means the House will have to suspend some provisions in the parliament regulation, for a certain time is required to move the amendment process of the bill seeking one-year extension for the CA, whose term expires on May 28.

When CA Chairman Subas Nembang was about to begin tabling the bill, NC Chief Whip Laxman Prasad Ghimire said opposition parties would not allow the bill to be tabled until the NC’s 10-point roadmap was followed.

“The NC gave ultimatum with today’s deadline to the government and Maoists to address its roadmap for ensuring the peace and constitution writing processes. As there has been no progress in this regard, we will not allow the bill to be tabled,” said Ghimire.

Lawmakers of 15 parties, and one independent member

started chanting slogans ignoring repeated requests from the CA Chairman to allow the tabling process, Nembang postponed the House until for 3 pm tomorrow.

Earlier, opposition parties had let two bills on money laundering and caste discrimination and untouchability to pass.

Before beginning today’s House meeting, senior leaders, including the chiefs of UCPN-M and NC had met, but failed to find a solution.

“Although, the deadline of our ultimatum will expire today, we will wait through the remaining four days because, if the Maoists are willing and honest about the peace and constitution writing processes, the issues of handing over weapons and command and control of cantonments to the government, the bill can

be passed in one day,” said NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

But if the Nepali Congress roadmap is not followed, the party and its allies will not vote for extending the Constituent Assembly’s term, he said.