Kathmandu

Parliament continues Constitution amendment debate

Parliament continues Constitution amendment debate

By THT Online

Lawmakers of the protesting United Democratic Madhesi Parties (UDMF) obstruct the Parliament meeting demanding that the House proceedings should not move ahead until their demands meet in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. The UDMF has been staging demonstrations in various parts of the Tarai-Madhes region, protesting the demarcation of federal units in the Constitution. The lawmakers have been obstructing the House for last few weeks. Photo: Skanda Gautam

KATHMANDU: Notwithstanding protests carried out by lawmakers of the United Democratic Madhesi Front, the Legislature Parliament continued deliberations on the Bill on First Amendment of Constitution. The Parliament discussed the Bill for around two hours today and adjourned the meeting for 1 pm on Monday. It was expected that Speaker Onsari Gharti would conclude the discussions today and provide 72 hours to lawmakers to register amendment proposals on the Bill. However, the time provided for lawmakers to air their views on the Bill was over now, according to Gharti. Now, on Monday meeting, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Agni Prasad Kharel would answer on behalf of the government the lawmakers' concerns raised during the deliberations. While ruling CPN-UML and UCPN-M are keen to move ahead with the procedures, main opposition Nepali Congress, however, is insisting on putting the remaining proceedings on hold for a few more days and resuming the process after taking the agitating parties into confidence. For last few weeks, the UDMF lawmakers were sloganeering at the House meeting demanding that the new Constitution, neither the Bill for its amendment, addressed their demands for rights to proportional inclusive representation.