Leaders vow new statute on time, agreement, peace

KATHMANDU: Leaders of four major political parties today expressed their commitment to finalize the new constitution within schedule.

Addressing the fourth Non Resident Nepali (NRN) global conference here, they said they were seriously doing the homework

to bring a new constitution by May 28, 2010 despite

the lingering differences among political parties on certain issues.

Central leader of the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) and former finance minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai said, “I am confident it will be possible to finalize the new constitution three months before the scheduled deadline.” He also

expressed his party’s commitment to taking the peace process to a logical end and emphasized on

the need for consensus among the major three political parties.

Highlighting the major tasks of political parties, Nepali Communist Party of United Marxist-Leninists (CPN-UML) president Jhalanath Khanal said constitution-making should be the top priority among all tasks. “It is the foremost task for the institutionalization of democracy,”he pointed out adding, “If the task of constitution-making is not carried out by

May 28, 2010, our motherland will be witnessing the worst crisis.”

According to him, the fundamental bases of federalism such as population, ethnicity, language, geography and resources should be identified clearly. He added that political consensus has to be a must while restructuring the state. Khanal also described economic development and national unity as essential tasks to build a new Nepal.

Nepali Congress acting president Sushil Koirala also expressed his

party’s commitment to drafting a new constitution with a guarantee of human rights, press freedom and the rule of law.

Recognizing that NRNs can contribute significantly to building a new Nepal, Dr Bhattarai urged them to share their managerial skills and coordinating technical knowhow. Likewise, Madhesi People’s Right Forum president Upendra Yadav. “Nepali people can benefit from the experiences of NRNs in the investment sector,” he said.

Responding to the demand of NRNs regarding dual citizenship, the leaders assured that they would not have any problem getting dual citizenship based on certain criteria. “Our party is fully committed to resolving the issue of dual citizenship of NRNs,” Yadav said.