Prez rues lost opportunity

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: A day after the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly after its failure to deliver the constitution within the extended deadline, President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said the move has dashed people’s hope of achieving progress and national prosperity through a truly democratic constitution.

In his Republic Day message, President Ram Baran Yadav said the dissolution of the CA, the outcome of a long struggle, has saddened the Nepalis. “Our long-cherished goal of making the country prosperous and peaceful through a democratic statute drafted peoples’ representatives has suffered a setback,” President said.

President Yadav expressed hope that political forces and leaders will learn lessons from repeated failures in institutionalising and strengthening the democratic achievements.

The interim constitution will keep on guiding the country, he said, appealing all to maintain social harmony during the transition period.

In his address, PM Bhattarai said, “The failure to adopt a constitution even in four years is indeed worrisome. The main reason behind this is the conflict between progressive and status-quoist forces.”

People will judge us by our ideals and principles, Bhattarai said.

He held that frequent changes in government also took a toll on the constitution-making process.

“The country saw four-five governments in a short period. The political instability arising from frequent changes in government impacted relations among political parties. This had a profound impact on the constitution-making process,” the prime minister said in his message.