Kathmandu, March 26:

The Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF), the third largest partner in the Maoist-led coalition, today presented its concept on new constitution and proposed that Hindi be recognised as one of the official languages at the centre.

Presenting his party’s concept paper in a meeting of the Constitutional Committee, MJF president and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav proposed that Hindi, along with the Nepali language, be recognised as an official language at the centre and Nepali and local languages in the provinces.

MJF has proposed bicameral parliament at the centre and an autonomous Madhes pradesh along with right to self-determination.

The party has also proposed direct election of an executive president. Yadav said provincial chiefs should also be elected directly. There should be proportional representation of all communities in the federal and provincial organs, Yadav said.

The MJF has proposed to conduct referendum if the executive president has to take any major decision that can have a long-term impact. Education, health, employment, shelter and social security should be enshrined in the new constitution as fundamental rights. The principle of inclusiveness should be ensured in all state organs, including the army, police and civil service.

Meanwhile, Surya Bahadur Thapa, president of the Rastriya Janashakti Party, also presented

his party’s views on the constitution. The RJP has proposed for direct election of executive.

“If the executive power is vested in the President, he can turn into an authoritarian ruler,” Thapa said. He said both the President and prime minister should not be elected directly. He also said the concepts of federalism proposed by the parties were incomplete.