Kathmandu, January 5:

Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Kedar Nath Upadhyaya said today that it would be one of the biggest human rights violations on the part of

the state if the sovereign people were deprived of their rights to take part in the constituent assembly election.

Addressing the 14th annual general meeting of Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), Upadhyaya, also a former Chief Justice, said that it is an inalienable right of the people to participate in state affairs, which is manifested through time-bound elections.

“People of Nepal have been deprived of making their own constitution for the past 60 years and it is still uncertain whether they will enjoy this long-awaited right this time,” he said, adding that it was a matter of serious concern that dates of the constituent assembly elections had been deferred time and again.

Noted rights activist Krishna Pahadi expressed doubt over holding successful election even in mid-April given the misunderstanding among partners of the seven-party alliance and conspiracy of the palace.

Pahadi said that the palace was preparing ground to disrupt the April election by instigating clashes between the major political parties, raising religious issues and ethnic and regional tensions among various groups.

“Relevance of the interim constitution would also cease if the election was not held by mid-April,” he said.

He also accused the seven-party alliance of being half-heartedly committed to the polls, federalism and republican order. He urged the alliance not to defer the election this time even though new political outfits have raised fresh demands ahead of the election.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Surya Prasad Shrestha warned that the country might plunge into a new phase of conflict like the latest violence in Kenya and Pakistan if the election was not held in a free and impartial manner. He lamented that the government did not allow the Election Commission itself to declare date of election.

Country representative of UNOHCHR (United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) Richard Bennet said even a successful election was not enough to ensure lasting peace and stability if the human rights were not respected and marginalised groups not included in the constitution making process.

He said that the marginalised groups were not consulted during several rounds of talks with various political stakeholders.

He also lamented that nobody was prosecuted on charges of human rights violations during the conflict.

He also expressed doubts over the formation of commissions within January 21, the deadline set by the seven-party alliance in its 23-point agreement reached on December 23.