CDC misses deadline for revised draft as differences persist
KATHMANDU: The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) missed its deadline to present a revised draft of the new constitution as top leaders of major political parties failed to reach consensus on disputes of the constitution including demarcation of federal units.
The Constituent Assembly meeting on August 12 had assigned the panel to finalise the draft of the constitution by today by incorporating feedback collected from the public on the first draft and latest agreements reached at the Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (CPDCC).
"As the Committee could not complete its tasks and reach a consensus," CDC Chairman Krishna Prasad Sitaula told mediapersons after the CDC meeting on Monday, "It is now impossible to present the revised draft to the Constituent Assembly today."
The CDC apparently could not meet the deadline as the leaders are under pressure to redo demarcation of federal units as the six-Pradesh model proposed by the CPDCC drew violent protests in various parts of the nation.
Meanwhile, top leaders of major four political forces – Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic – are further discussing the demarcation issue at the Special Committee formed by the CPDCC.
"Homework on the demarcation issue is still on," CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, who also heads the Special Committee, said after a meeting of the Committee this evening.
According to NC Joint General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka, the leaders of late are mulling over splitting the proposed sixth Pradesh into two. "All districts of Karnali and Bheri zones and Rukum and Salyan of Rapti zone may constitute a separate province," he added.
Lawmakers representing the region had met top leaders on Sunday and asked them to split the Pradesh, according to Khadka.