KESHAV P. KOIRALA

KATHMANDU: The clause-wise discussion on the Revised Bill of new constitution ended at the Constituent Assembly on Sunday, after the top-most leaders of three major parties -- UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala-- took part in it.

Addressing the Constituent Assembly this afternoon, they stressed the need for talks and urged the agitating parties and other forces to take up peaceful measures to resolve their differences. The leaders, however, maintained that the ongoing process to deliver the new constitution would move ahead.

The next meeting of CA, scheduled for 5 pm, would start the voting process on the amendment proposals on the Revised Bill of new constitution, its clauses, preamble and name, CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang announced after Constitution Drafting Committee Chairman Krishna Prasad Sitaula responded to the concerns raised over the Bill.

Recalling Heine's quote "I have sown dragon's teeth and harvested fleas" -- though wrongly attributing it to Karl Marx -- Maoist leader Dahal said the draft constitution somehow appeared to be fleas and was not on a par with a new state that his party had envisaged. But it's a time of agni-pariksha, he said, adding that failing to deliver new constitution would push the country to further crisis.

"Objectively speaking, we have entered from one period to another and we all are bearing that labour pain," he added.

Earlier, UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that this CA should deliver the constitution at any cost.

Referring to the ongoing agitation in different parts of the country, he said that efforts would be made to fulfil their legitimate demands. "But this high time we became cautious about the activities that intend to fail the country, people, parties and Constituent Assembly," he asserted.

"The constitution should be made by the Constituent Assembly at any cost. Otherwise, the country would be pushed to mishap."

He, however, acknowledged the ongoing agitation in different fronts as well as interests of national and international forces as normal.

"People are worried whether we can deliver the rights as promised as they know that the constitution would not be made by the Constitution Assembly time and again."

"We will try to meet the rightful demands."

He heavily criticised the voices for secession of the country and setting up Tarai-Madhes region as a separate country. "This statement is suicidal and betrayal to the nation," he maintained, arguing that such an agenda could not be in favour of the Madhesi people at any cost.

Recalling the role of people of different regions and ethnicities in Nepal's evolution as a modern state, he said Madhesi people cannot betray the nation.

"...Given their cultural and historic contributions, Madhesi people should claim their full share in Kathmandu. Thoughts of separating from Kathmandu cannot be nationalistic," he added.

"At this final turn of the history, we should not forget that due to the joint contribution of different communities including Kiratis, Madhesis and Janajatis in building Kathmandu, Nepal never had to be puppet or colony at the time the so-called powerful nations had to be slaves of others."

Earlier, Nepal Workers Peasants Party Chairman and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa had also aired their views.

(Updated)

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Constituent Assembly meeting begins, top leaders addressing

KATHMANDU: The Constituent Assembly meeting, which was deferred for two days, has started at the CA building in New Baneshwar on Sunday afternoon.

The three major parties -- Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist -- have asked their CA members to attend the CA meeting compulsorily attend the meeting.

The CA is scheduled to begin voting process on the clauses of Revised Bill of new constitution after the leaders complete airing their views on the draft constitution and related issues.

Nepal Workers Peasants Party Chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Kamal Thapa, UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Thapa and KP Sharma Oli have already addressed the CA.

After leader Oli, Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala is addressing.

• READ ALSO: CA voting process to start

@keshuvko