Constitution amendment can wait: Prime minister

Kathmandu, September 20

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today hinted that immediate amendment to the constitution was not on the government’s priority list and said the government would do the needful at the right time.

Addressing a function to mark the fourth Constitutional Day and National Day in Kathmandu, Oli said there was no difference between ruling or opposition parties when it came to implementation of the constitution.

Stating that Nepal’s democracy was broad enough to mainstream extreme views in all these years, he said he was keen to bring to the mainstream even those who still remained misguided. The prime minister’s statement comes at a time when marginalised communities and groups, including Madhesis and Janajatis, marked the day as ‘Black Day’ demanding amendment to the constitution to address their concerns.

Political parties, including the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and ruling coalition partner Samajwadi Party-Nepal, have also been demanding constitutional amendments.

RJP-N leader Sarvendra Nath Shukla said his party would never give up its demand for constitution amendment. He said the government and the prime minister could not stay mum for very long on the issue that had backing from a huge section of society.

“Unless the concerns of such a huge section of society are addressed through constitution amendment, conflict will not end,” Shukla told THT. “Without ending the conflict, prosperity is impossible.”

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