If ruling coalition comes up with a common view on boundary issues, NC will be much more flexible

Kathmandu, November 19

Nepali Congress has called a meeting of its Madhes-based lawmakers on Saturday to dwell on the issues raised by the agitating Madhesi people.

The meeting will be held at 5:00pm on Saturday at the party’s parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar and the party will make its stance on the issue of boundaries clear following the meeting, said NC leader Farmullha Mansur, who represents NC in the Parliament from Bara district.

NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi said the party was working to settle the issue of boundaries through talks and push the government to proceed with the constitution amendment on two issues proportional inclusion and delimitation of boundaries on the basis of population.

“People and leaders of all major parties have differences on the issue of boundaries which is but natural. However, the NC is seriously working to find a common ground,” said Nidhi.

Since the provision of boundaries mentioned in the new constitution has not resolved the crisis, it should be dealt with seriously, added Mansur. “Earlier, the NC had proposed a seven-province model with four provinces in hilly areas and three in the Tarai-Madhes region.

However, the proposal was not accepted by other parties. Now, the NC has again taken the initiative to resolve the issue by finding a common stance on the issue,” he said.

Mansur accused the ruling coalition of not showing flexibility while addressing the concerns of Madhesis. “The CPN-UML was opposed to include the provision of proportional inclusion and delimitation of constituencies on the basis of population, as provisioned in the Interim Constitution, in the new constitution.

It objected to the NC’s proposal to amend constitution on the two issues when they were taken up during a Cabinet meeting of Sushil Koirala-led government. Even now the UML-led government has not shown seriousness to proceed with the constitution amendment process, nor is it making responsible attempts to find solution of boundaries through talks,” Mansur alleged.

If the ruling coalition comes up with a common view on the boundary issues, the NC will be much more flexible to settle the issue, he added.

Asked whether the gap between Madhesi leaders of the NC and other leaders was widening within the NC on the issues of boundaries, Mansur said having different opinions in a democratic party was natural. “Leaders may have varied opinions but the NC has taken a united decision in the past and will do so in the future as well.

An individual leader’s views do not affect the party’s decision that is taken after discussions at multiple levels,” he said.

NC Chief Whip Chin Kaji Shrestha said the NC was preparing to hold discussions with the Madhes-based lawmakers of the party to arrive at a common stance on the issues raised by the agitating Madhesi communities.