Kathmandu, November 11:

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said today that the constitution would be framed within the stipulated time. He said that the people would lose if the statute were not drafted on time.

The PM said this while talking to a delegation of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ).

He said the present government had two challenges — taking the peace process to a logical conclusion and framing the new constitution on time. “These two assignments will determine the fate of the country and the countrymen,” said the PM.

“The government is committed to tackling these challenges.”

Taking a swipe at what he called “present dilly-dallying”, he said, “The peace process would have neared conclusion had there been fair play,” the PM, who is also chairman of the CPN-Maoist, said. “We are fighting a different kind of battle. The people will forge a front against all political malpractices.”

The delegation handed over a memorandum to the Prime Minister. In the memorandum, the FNJ has demanded that the constitution-making process be initiated in right earnest. It said that the new constitution shall guarantee press freedom and freedom of expression.

The Prime Minister accepted that the people were frustrated with the delay in the main task the Constituent Assembly is supposed to undertake. He lauded the journalists’ body for raising the right issue at the right time.