Kathmandu, August 28

CPN-UML Senior leader Jhalanath Khanal today said sustainable peace and development was possible in Nepal if the new constitution could be drafted with the ideals of Buddha.

Addressing the ongoing deliberations in the Constituent Assembly on the third consecutive day today, Khanal said the people’s 65-year-old wish to draft a new constitution through CA was going to be fulfilled soon. Former prime minister Khanal said federalism itself was not a revolutionary change but a system to govern the nation.

As the second people’s movement has created a base of economic and social revolution, he claimed that no force could now stop Nepal from promulgating a new constitution. Khanal said everything could be resolved through dialogue in a democratic regime. He added that the upcoming constitution wouldn’t be the final document and could be amended later. He said the dispute over split in Baglung should also be addressed besides the issues raised by Janajatis and Tharu people. He added that the new constitution was a progressive one.

NC CA member Prakash Sharan Mahat said despite some problems, promulgation of constitution was in its final stage. “Leadership should boldly tackle the problems and promulgate constitution by resolving the technical issues,” he said.

He added the state should adopt golden mean regarding religion. “If all ethnic groups demand their space, federalism would fail,” he said. He maintained that Tikapur riot could be an eye opener for all Nepalis. “Since the income of provinces is unequal, centre should distribute equally by collecting all the taxes,” he said.

Unified CPN-Maoist CA member Janardan Sharma demanded all the top leaders to address people’s demands as the constitution drafting process had come to the final stage. He said democracy would not sustain without ensuring the rights of Dalits and employees’ trade union.

Claiming that Tharus cannot be blamed for Tikapur incident, Sharma urged the leaders to address the demands of Tharu and Magar communities, along with ensuring special rights for Karnali.

RPP-Nepal CA member Dilnath Giri said it was unfortunate that demonstrations and dissatisfaction had marred the long-awaited constitution.

Most of the CA members who spoke today demanded a provision of threshold and proportional representation to the agitating disadvantaged groups.