Kathmandu, January 18:

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, inaugurating the two-day National Convention of Nepal Democratic Lawyers’ Association (Ne-DLA) here today, called on the people of several ethnic groups and communities to wait till after the Constituent Assembly election are completed to fulfil their demands.

“The CA shall have the mandate to fulfil the demands of several classes and ethnic groups; thus I want to call upon them to wait till after the CA polls so that their demands are addresses,” he added.

“It is not possible to fulfil all the demands of the people from the current Interim Parliament and the Interim Constitution,” Sitaula said.

He also called on lawyers to play a role in drafting a suitable statute so that it could protect the people’s rights. “We have to think about how we can resolve the country’s problems as we have stripped the king of his powers,” he added. He also reiterated the CA polls would be held on April 10 and it would resolve all the problems.

Chief of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Kedar Nath Upadhayaya, urged that the impunity persisting in the country be ended. “The rule of law and human rights situation is deteriorating day by day. I want to ask lawyers to raise their voices against it,” he added.

Saying that though CA election is major task, chairman of Interim Constitution Drafting Committee, Laxman Prasad Aryal said drafting the new constitution would not be an easy job. “Thus we have to work seriously to draft the constitution after the CA election,” he added. Attorney General Yagya Murti Banjade urged holding the CA election in a free and fair manner. He also added all things couldn’t be incorporated in the constitution as per the people’s wishes so lawyers should play a role in drafting a suitable constitution. Saying that the rule of law was presently absent, NHRC member Ram Nagina Singh called lawyers to work for the rule of law. According to Singh, conducting the CA polls in a free and fair manner is an urgent need to guarantee the people’s rights.

Chairman of Ne-DLA, Baburam Kunwar said the lawyers’ body is ready to fight for the rule of law and human rights of the people in the future by electing a new leadership.

PM’s call to help conduct polls

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala urged people to take on a historic responsibility by conducting the Constituent Assembly election. The Prime Minister, sending a message to the lawyers’ conference, called everybody to contribute to holding of the Constituent Assembly election in a free and fair manner. “Lawyers should work to contribute to the democratic system in the country, the rule of law, the peace process and political stability,” he said. He also urged lawyers to keep their confidence and cordiality intact. — HNS