Rajbiraj, September 17

As the nation braces to mark the upcoming Constitution Day, differences have surfaced in the Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal in its central and provincial committees in Province 2 on whether to commemorate the day on Wednesday.

Earlier, the party provincial committee in Province 2 had issued a press release on Sunday urging all the local representatives elected from the party and others to boycott programmes to mark the day.

Citing the non-implementation of pledges while taking the party on board the government, the press release signed by the party’s Madhes Province Working Committee Chairperson and the party’s central Vice-chairperson Renu Kumar Yadav, had called its supporters to observe 15 minutes blackout at 7:00pm that day, sport black bands and hoist black flags in public places.

Just a day later, however, the party central committee separately issued another press release urging its supporters not to participate in any Black Day programme against Constitution Day, arguing that the party hadn’t decided on this action. “There’s no denying that we have reservations about the constitution, but it’s worth mentioning that there has been clear agreement among coalition partners to protect the gains so far achieved through the statute and ensure more rights through its amendment,” read the statement signed by the party central Deputy General Secretary and central office Chief Prakash Adhikari.

Commenting in the wake of the party’s central committee’s press release, Yadav clarified that there was no condition in Province 2 to mark the day by observing a Depawali. “Despite the sacrifice that the Madhes made, the pledged amendment to the statute is yet to happen, hence our decision at the province level.”