Kathmandu, June 14

The CPN-UML today said that Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal’s key demands — Constitution amendment and increase in the numbers of local levels in the districts of Tarai region cannot be fulfilled prior to the second phase of elections.

A standing committee meeting of the main opposition party held at the party’s headquarters in Dhumbaharai concluded that constitution amendment and local level polls are two separate issues and also reiterated its serious reservations over the constitution amendment bill tabled in the Parliament. The UML said the bill would increase political polarisation and raise serious question on political and constitutional stability in the country.  The party demanded withdrawal of the bill.

The UML, however, urged the government to fulfil the RJPN’s other demands — withdrawal of charges against cadres of agitating forces who were not involved in heinous crime, announcement of martyrdom, compensation and treatment cost to injured agitators.

The meeting has also cautioned the government not to promote impunity in the country by withdrawing cases against those involved in heinous crime.

“The meeting also stressed the need to hold the second phase of local level elections on the stipulated date,” reads the statement issued by chief of UML’s publicity department and party Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai.

The UML has also urged the RJP-N to take part in the second phase of local level polls schedule for June 28.

The meeting objected to the government leadership for spreading rumours about the poll date and creating confusion among people.

“Instead of holding dialogue with the political parties to create conducive environment to hold local level polls on the scheduled date, the government leadership has deviated from its serious responsibility of holding elections,” reads the statement.