Deuba seeks support for statute amendment

Bhojpur, December 3

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today said the constitution amendment proposal was the right prescription to end the present political deadlock ailing the country and urged all political parties to support the proposal.

“As the proposed amendment is the only way to end problems facing the country, I have a firm belief that the proposal will be endorsed by two-thirds majority of the Parliament,” said Deuba, speaking at a press conference in Laukahi, Sunsari today.

Further, stating that he was was baffled by the main opposition’s reaction to the proposed change in provincial boundaries, the NC leader added, “In fact, the federal structure envisioned by the statute amendment proposal now is exactly in sync with the model NC and CPN-UML once agreed upon in the past.”

The NC president, however, expressed his firm conviction that the UML would finally support the constitution amendment bill. “Once the amendment is endorsed in the Parliament, the country will head towards elections, which will restore peace and stability in the country and pave the way for economic prosperity,” said Deuba, dismissing possibility of a change of government in the event of failure to pass the amendment bill.

“Irrespective of the fate of the bill, the same government will be at the helm,” he said and defended the government for introducing the amendment bill that, he claimed, was brought solely to address the concerns of agitating Madhes-based parties. “In fact, the amendment proposal is for the Madhesi populace and they are happy about it,” he said.

Speaking about rumours of possible merger of the Sunsari district headquarters Inaruwa with Province 2, the NC leader denied that there was any plan to merge the eastern districts of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari in Province 1 with Province 2 as rumoured.