NC urges govt to call House at the earliest

THT ONLINE

KATHMANDU: Expressing doubts over the intent of the UCPN-Maoist and the government the party has been leading, the major opposition Nepali Congress on Wednesday demanded that the Legislature-Parliament meeting be called at the earliest in order to amend the Interim Constitution and facilitate the constitution-drafting process with its deadline looming large.

Though major political parties had already decided to amend the Article 70 of Interim Constitution to shorten the constitution-drafting process and registered the bill at the Parliament Secretariat, the bill awaits the House meeting.

The NC Parliamentary Party meeting held at Singha Durbar today urged the government to summon the House immediately and table the bill which would eventually shorten the constitution-drafting process.

Emerging from the meeting, NC Vice President and PP leader Ram Chandra Paudel said that the party will decide what to do next if the government did not call the House.

After the bill is tabled, the preamble and all the articles of new constitution will be passed together at least by two-third majorities of the Constituent Assembly.

After the meeting, the NC PP issued a statement saying that the Maoist-led government has ignored the essence of calling the House meeting to amend the Interim Constitution and provide an impetus to the constitution-drafting.

Mentioning that only 26 day are left, the NC PP further accused the Maoist party and the government of not being keen on preparing the new constitution.

“We have felt that the prime minister and the government have been irresponsible for their reluctance to summon the Legislature-Parliament’s meeting at this crucial time,” the statement said, “This has created suspicions that the incumbent government is hatching a plot to buy time for the time being in order to create a constitutional void after May 27 and push the country towards political instability and serious mishap.”

Over the issue of passing a no-confidence motion against the incumbent Maoist led government, today’s NC meet remained silent.

The NC PP reiterated its commitment to the constitution-drafting and promulgation of new constitution by the preset date of May 27.