Kathmandu, May 22

Chairperson of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav today said if the constitution is not rewritten, there will be another popular movement that will repeal the constitution and write a new one.

Addressing an interaction at Reporters Club here today, Yadav said if the government tries to crush the agitating forces’ movement, then the agitation will take a different form and the new constitution will replace the one promulgated in September last year.

Yadav said the agitating forces decided to organise their protest in the capital to counter the allegation that the issues raised by Madhesis during the Madhes movement were not issues of all the marginalised communities, including those of the hills and mountains.

He said the current agitation launched by the Federal Alliance will promote the feeling of nationalism as people from all regions mountains, hills and the Tarai were joining their hands to win their rights.

“This constitution will not work,” he said and added that former president Ram Baran Yadav, late prime minister Sushil Koirala and CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Naya Shakti leader Baburam Bhattarai had all admitted that the constitution was flawed and an incomplete document.

Yadav said the agitating forces would hold talks with the government only when the latter built the environment for talks by withdrawing false cases against the agitating forces’ leaders and cadres.

“If the government cannot ensure that the past agreements signed between the agitating forces and the state will be implemented, then there is no relevance of talks,” he added.

He said the government’s offer for talks was only a ploy to mislead the public and the international community. “Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa holds regressive views on republicanism, secularism, federalism and inclusion. How can we hold talks with such a person?” Yadav wondered.

He said the PM had been saying that he could not address certain demands of the agitating forces, which itself was an indication that the PM was not sincere about finding a negotiated settlement of constitutional issues.

Yadav said the FA’s agitation was only the beginning of the movement and it would grow in the coming weeks.