Kathmandu, August 29

Nepali Congress Madhesi Constituent Assembly members belonging to the proposed province no 2, today suggested that the top leaders of the party adopt scientific ways to demarcate the boundaries of federal units to prevent growing dissatisfaction with the proposed seven-province model.

They suggested that the proposed eight districts of province 2 should be kept intact and the party should try to link this province with the districts of Chure range, including Udayapur, Sindhuli, and Makawanpur.

“Adopting scientific ways — five bases of identity and four bases of capability — as determined by the CA’s concerned committee will help dilute unnecessary individual claims on demarcation. Likewise, the party should listen to the concerns of its Madhes-based CA members instead of Madhes-based parties while taking decisions on the issues of Madhesis,” said NC CA member Ganesh Kumar Mandal of Siraha after discussion with the party’s office bearers and CA members of province 2 at the CA building in New Baneshwor today.

The Madhesi CA members also urged the leaders to adopt the principle of determining election constituencies on the basis of population in the Tarai and ensure maximum rights to the provinces, said Mandal.

They also advised the leaders to ease the provision related to issuance of citizenship certificate to children of naturalised parent(s). They suggested focusing on the acceptance of the draft constitution instead of delivering a new statute in haste, he said. “Most of the speakers suggested that no stone should be left unturned to take the agitating forces into confidence before delivering the new statute,” Mandal said.

In a separate discussion with CA members of province 3, the members suggested that the term ‘armed struggle’ should be removed from the preamble of the draft constitution as it may legitimise armed conflicts in future as well, said CA member Chandra Maharjan of Lalitpur.

“The constitutional provisions should focus on how the country’s economic growth can be enhanced,” Maharjan said. NC Joint-General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka said the party’s office bearers held discussions with CA members of province 1 yesterday and with members of provinces 2 and 3 today.

“After collecting the views of all members, the issues raised will be discussed at the party’s parliamentary meeting and Central Working Committee within a few days,” Khadka said.