KATHMANDU, August 10

Chairman of Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday clarified that there was still ample chance of changing the demarcation of Pradeshes carved by the special committee of top leaders formed by the Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (CPDCC).

“Therefore media should not give the message to people that the revised draft was the final constitution, thus inciting people to resort to movements,” Dahal told a delegation of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) at the UCPN-M parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar.

“Since there is ample space for correcting the borders of Pradeshes, it is not necessary to start a movement now,” he said, adding that the top leaders were still discussing corrections to be made wherever necessary.

At the technical and political levels, homework is being done to make the borders practical and scientific, Dahal said. “It is too early to protest and begin a movement,” he said.

All the leaders of his party, except senior leader Baburam Bhattarai have opposed the six-Pradesh model and demanded to know the bases on which the top leaders created their version of a federated state.

He further said the leaders would try to incorporate genuine suggestions from the people in the final draft and therefore he urged everyone to keep on providing their suggestions.

Dahal added that the people’s concerns were not unexpected because this was an historical event, but everybody should be restrained while protesting as regressive forces could take advantage of the volatile situation.

Likewise, Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Sitaula on Monday said the demarcation of Pradeshes was not final and they could be amended.

While inaugurating the statue of late Shyam Sundar Yadav at Khajurgachhi of Jhapa on Monday, Sitaula urged everyone not to protest in haste.

“There is nothing to worry about and react now,” he said, adding that the leaders were also preparing for talks with RPP-Nepal and Madhes-based parties as well.

He, however, said the constitution wouldn’t be stopped by any kind of protest or movement.