KATHMANDU, July 29

Leaders of four parties – Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Unified CPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic – have expressed their readiness to adopt a tentative but informal calendar of operation of Constituent Assembly prepared by CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang.

According to the calendar, the CA will prepare final “Reviewed Bill” of the new constitution within next eight to 10 days and the CA will promulgate the new constitution by August 17, said Nembang after a meeting with the leaders at CA Hall in New Baneshwor.

“As agreed on Wednesday, the parties will settle the issues raised by different sides within four days. Even if anything remained unsettled, they will not stop the CA’s process. Rather, they will file joint amendment proposal in the CA later if they could forge agreement on any issue,” Nembang said.

READ ALSO

• Stance on secularism

Following the understanding, the CA meeting forwarded the report of the Committee on Citizen Relations and Public Opinion Collection to the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee mandating the latter to find a common ground on the people’s feedback and submit its report within four days. After the CPDCC submits its report, the CA will mandate the Constitution Drafting Committee to prepare “Reviewed Bill” within four days, Nembang said.

Earlier, taking part in discussions on the report, CA members suggested that the people’s wish for directly elected executive head, demarcation of the boundaries of federal units in the new constitution, ensuring all Nepalis equal right to citizenship and ensuring rights of oppressed groups should be incorporated in the new constitution. Some CA members, however, expressed discontent stating that report of the panel could not incorporate all issues raised by the people during the CA’s recent campaign to collect feedback.

Meanwhile, four Madhes-based parties — Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Sadbhawana Party and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party — boycotted on Wednesday’s CA proceedings. Before boycotting the CA meeting, SP leader Laxman Lal Karna said the four parties would not be a part of the “drama” staged in the interest of leaders of the four parties.

 Tentative schedule

• “Reviewed Bill” of the new constitution to be prepared in 8-10 days, beginning Thursday
• CA members to study the Bill for one day instead of three days
• Discussion on the Bill to last three-four days
• Amendment proposal on the Bill to be registered within two days instead of seven days
• Every Article to be passed by voice vote and the Bill to be passed by split vote within two days