Nepal

UCPN-M wants 'tentative Pradesh borders' fixed before statute

UCPN-M wants 'tentative Pradesh borders' fixed before statute

By THT Online

KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist on Friday submitted a 13-page memorandum to Constituent Assembly Chair Subas Chandra Nembang suggesting the constitution-writing body to fix 'tentative boundaries' of the eight Pradeshes in the new constitution itself. The party, however, said the detailed works of boundary demarcation should be finalised after promulgation of the constitution. On behalf of the party, Vice-Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha had submitted the document to Nembang today. Maintaining that the party is committed to the main spirit of the 16-point agreement, the UCPN-Maoist said it favours directly elected presidential system and reappointment of the office beareres of the constitutional bodies including the Supreme Court Justices. Meanwhile, the UCPN-M said that the Constitution Drafting Committee incorporated or removed some provisions against the agreement among political parties and that should be rectified. For example, the agreement was reached at a CA panel that citizenship of descent would be granted to children of Nepali citizens either on the basis of their father or mother’s Nepali nationality. But, the 'or' has been replaced with 'and' in the draft constitution, the party argued. Likewise, the CDC deleted the term 'proportional' from 'proportional inclusion' in various contexts, the party added. The party said the draft incorporated provisions of unitary judiciary which was against the agreement between the major parties.