Kathmandu, September 9

Over 50 Constituent Assembly members, who had registered their amendment proposals on the provisions of the draft constitution, defended their proposals in the CA debate today.

NC CA member Shekhar Koirala said he registered the amendment because there were some serious flaws in the draft constitution that needed to be amended.

Koirala said the major parties should either hold or slow the constitution making process so that protesting forces could be brought to the negotiating table. He said parties should seek negotiated settlement of constitutional issues.

Unified CPN-Maoist CA member Umesh Yadav and Rekha Sharma said proportional inclusion, which was guaranteed in the Interim Constitution, must also be ensured in the new constitution to empower marginalised communities.

Yadav said two provinces in Madhes — one from Jhapa district to Chitwan and another from Nawalparasi to kanchanpur would satisfy the protesting Madhesi and Tharu forces. Yadav said two provinces in Madhes would unite all the communities and not affect national unity as claimed by some.

Rastriya Janamorcha CA member Chitra Bahadur KC said federalism should be removed from the constitution because the issue of federalism had become a serious cause of discord in the country.

Meanwhile, Kamal Thapa-led Rastriya Prajantara Party-Nepal today submitted a memorandum to CA Chair Subas Chandra Nembang informing him of their decision to boycott the constitution making process. All Madhesi parties have also boycotted the constitution making process.

Some RPP-N CA members who spoke during today’s debate said they took part in the debate just for the sake of formality. Five amendment proposals including the joint amendment proposal of the big three parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist are likely to be tabled tomorrow.

Earlier, it appeared that the CA Chair would end the debate on the amendment proposal today, but he postponed the debate till tomorrow expecting a deal.