Kathmandu, December 10

The United Democratic Madhesi Front today softened its stance on the constitution amendment bill that the government had registered in the Parliament on November 29.

A meeting of the front decided to support the constitution amendment bill if it was revised on the basis of mutual discussions and consensus, said Keshav Jha, general secretary of National Madhes Socialist Party.

The UDMF said in its decision today that the prime minister’s statement that the government would try to revise the bill in the Parliament was positive.

Jha said the UDMF had never rejected the bill. It had sought revision of some of the provisions, but some elements tried to spread the rumour that the UDMF had opposed the bill. “UDMF’s decision has clarified its position on the bill and dispelled the rumour created against the front. What we had said in the past was that we would not accept the bill in its current form,” Jha added.

The UDMF termed the opposition parties’ obstruction of parliamentary proceedings unparliamentary and condemnable. Jha said the front also condemned the UML’s ongoing agitation against the bill as extremist and a separatist movement. “We have urged the UML not to infringe on national unity,” he added.

The UDMF also expressed its solidarity with the movement launched in the Tarai by Tharu forces for a Tharuhat province.

General Secretary of Sadbhawana Party Manish Kumar Suman said the UDMF decided to clarify its position as rumour had spread within the country and the international arena that the UDMF was against the bill.

The Federal Alliance, which has the UDMF as a constituent, has been protesting against the constitution. The FA had submitted a 26-point demand to the government, which included a demand for revising provincial boundaries as per the erstwhile State Restructuring Commission’s report.

CPN-Maoist Centre leader Agni Prasad Sapkota said the government was flexible on revising the constitution amendment bill, but any revision would be possible only when all the forces — the ruling and opposition parties — agreed to the same. He, however, said the PM would hold discussions with the stakeholders and revise it if they agreed. Sapkota said the government was also committed to holding polls even if the constitution amendment bill failed in the Parliament. “Even on the issue of polls, the government wants to move ahead on the basis of consensus,” he added.

Today’s meeting of the UDMF was attended by Lal Babu Raut of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal; Laxman Lal Karna, Narsingh Chaudhary and Manish Kumar Suman of Sadbhawana Party; Mahantha Thakur, Hridayesh Tripathi and Brikhesh Chandra Lal of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party; Kaushalendra Singh of Nepal Sadbhawana  Party; Rajkishor Yadav of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Republican; and Keshav Jha of National Madhes Socialist Forum.