Chitwan, December 7

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi today said that the amendment bill registered in the Parliament was the official proposal of Nepali Congress.

Talking to mediapersons at a programme organised by Nepal Press Union in Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nidhi held that the personal views of some party leaders would not change the NC’s position on statute amendment.

He argued that it was wrong to say that in-depth discussion was not held as the parties were engaged in deliberations on the amendment for the past one year.

Responding to a query about the consequence on the non-passage of the amendment bill, Nidhi claimed that Parliament would pass the bill with two-third majority.

“The bill will be revised and passed if that is required,” Nidhi added. He informed that the government was preparing to hold local polls within five months.

When asked about the opposition’s allegation that the proposal was anti-national, Nidhi flayed the comment. “When the amendment bill is proposed by KP Oli, it is nationalistic. How come it is anti-national when we propose it?” he questioned.

He commented that it was political dishonesty on the part of the CPN-UML to term the bill anti-national. He added that provisions incorporated regarding the demarcation of Province 5 were determined when Oli was PM.

A photo copy of the letter on demarcation of Province 5 signed by late NC president Sushil Koirala, UML Chair KP Oli and late RPP chair Surya Bhadur Thapa, among others, and submitted to Constitutional and Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee was distributed at the press meet.