Oppn‚ PM involved in power game: Yadav

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav today said his party would accept a new constitution only if it was ratified by elected representatives.

He, however, did not mention that the constitution should be framed by a new Constituent Assembly. Addressing an interaction on “The issue of women representation in politics” organised by Rastriya Janachetana Vikas Samaj, Yadav said the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist had deliberately aborted the CA to deny federalism and inclusion.

He said Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai made an unconstitutional recommendation to dissolve the CA on May 27. Now, he should not forget his caretaker status. Yadav said the Prime Minister and opposition parties were involved in a power game that would not bail the country out of the current political imbroglio.

He said political parties had to be serious about forging consensus on constitutional issues to put the country back on track. Yadav said the absence of elected bodies could take a heavy toll on the economy and affect appointments in constitutional bodies.

He said the Madhes movement played a catalytic role in ensuring proportional representation of women and the marginalised in the CA and also in government bodies, adding that the state should ensure proportional representation of women in all organs of government bodies and their equal right to property and access to justice.

Jitendra Sonal, general secretary, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party said the moment NC and UML agreed to accept federalism as suggested by the State Restructuring Commission or the committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Power, the UDMF would quit government and try to form a new government under NC leadership as per the five-point agreement. He said women and marginalised communities needed to secure a new constitution if they wanted to protect their rights. NC Central Committee member Mahendra Yadav said women had the least to complain about because in the last six years they were empowered.

Nilam Verma, Central Committee member of the newly formed Nepal Madhes Samajwadi Party said women should have proportional representation and meaningful participation in all bodies of governance and public life, while political parties should also reserve at least 33 per cent seats for women. She demanded 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.

Kaushal Kumar Singh, Chairman of OBC Federation demanded quota within quota for women of marginalised communities.