KATHMANDU: The Constitution Amendment Bill brought in by the government has attracted a total of 15 amendment proposals from lawmakers of various political parties, including the agitating Madhesi parties and the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre.

The Madhesi parties registered a proposal seeking amendment to five articles of Nepal's Constitution, which was promulgated on September 20, 2015 amid protest from them and amended for the first time in January the following year.

The Madhesi parties, who resorted to blockade of the Nepal-India border for four months against the Constitution promulgation, have sought amendment to Article 6 and Article 7 for the constitutional recognition of all mother tongues recommended by Language Commission, and Article 287 on provisions of Language Commission.

Also, they sought rectification of Article 86(2a) for proportional representation in electoral college for National Assembly based on reservation and population of respective provinces.

Likewise, they have sought amendment to the Article 56 for the revision of provincial boundaries.

The fifth point proposes exclusion of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts, which are on the other side of Koshi River, from Province No. 1 and adding them to Province No. 2 instead -- along with Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa and some VDCs of Chitwan.

The Maoist Nepali Congress coalition government had registered the seven-point Constitution Amendment Bill at Parliament's Secretariat in November 2016 -- proposing to amend provisions related to issues including redrawing provincial boundaries, recognition of languages, citizenship and representation in National Assembly -- in order to address demands put forth by the Madhesi parties.

Other lawmakers who registered amendment proposals are Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party; Bharat Bahadur Khadka of Nepali Congress; CPN Maoist Centre's Mohammad Jakir Hussain; Ganga Chaudhary Satgauwa and Gopal Dahit of Tharuhat Tarai Party Nepal; Chandra Kanta Bhandari of Nepali Congress; Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Kamala Dong, Rupa Maharjan and Narayan Bidari of of CPN Maoist Centre; Hari Charan Sah of Nepali Janata Dal; Rukmini Chaudhary of Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch and independent lawmaker Chandreshwar Jha, Rastriya Samachar Samiti reported.

A proposal put forth by Nepali Congress lawmakers has sought amendment to provisions related to recognition of official languages and electoral college for the National Assembly,and revision of boundaries of Province No. 4 and 5.

The Constitution Amendment Bill has proposed revision of boundaries of two provinces —  keeping the region east of Bardaghat in Nawalparasi district and the eastern part of Rukum  district in Province No. 4, and the region west of Bardaghat in Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke and Bardia districts in Province No. 5.

The main opposition CPN-UML has been opposing the Constituent Amendment Bill and stressing on elections, while the Madhesi parties have been demanding the amendment as per their demand as a prerequisite for elections.

READ ALSO:

• Constituent Assembly’s ultimate meeting promulgates Nepal’s Constitution 2072 
• Nepal makes first amendment of its constitution four months after promulgation 
• Govt registers Constitution amendment bill 
• Won’t let House pass Constitution amendment bill: Oli 
• Ruling RPP not to participate in Constitution amendment debate