Kathmandu, August 16

The Parliament today began clause-wise discussion on the constitution amendment bill.

Speaker Onsari Gharti said discussion on the bill would continue in the next Parliament meeting scheduled for August 20. All the lawmakers who registered amendments to the bill will present their proposals in the House. The bill will then be put to vote.

The constitution amendment bill was registered by Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government on April 11 after withdrawing the previous amendment bill registered on November 29, 2016. The bill aims to address demands put forth by the agitating Madhesi parties.

Participating in the discussion, CPN-UML lawmaker Rewati Raman Bhandari said the bill did not deserve to be passed. “On what basis should the constitution, which is yet to be implemented, be amended?” he questioned. He also said that the Parliament should get a fresh mandate to amend the constitution.

“There is no provision in amendment bill that proposes to give additional rights to the Madhesi people. Instead, the bill deprives their local representatives of voting in the Upper House,” he added.

Before the discussion on the bill began, lawmakers urged the government to take concrete steps to prevent the loss of lives and property in natural disasters. They also urged the government to take preventive measures and hold dialogues with the Indian government to minimise damage due to floods in the Tarai region.

CPN-UML lawmaker Asta Laxmi Shakya said all parties should work together to provide relief to the flood and landslide victims. She also urged the PM to hold talks with the Indian side to minimise damage during floods in the Tarai.

CPN-Maoist Centre Sheeprasad Jagebu said the ruling and opposition parties should work together to provide speedy relief to disaster victims.

Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal leader Narsingh Chaudhary demanded Rs 500,000 to each victim family as relief.

Lawmaker Rukmani Chaudhari said the government should take diplomatic efforts to solve the problems created by dams built on the Indian side.

Responding to lawmakers’ queries, Minster for Home Affairs Janardan Sharma said haphazard urbanisation led to greater loss of lives and property during natural disasters. He also said that some parts of country had received highest amount of rainfall in 60 years.