Saturday, May 18, 2024 | Last Update : 01:12 AM IST
Nepal tables bill to amend Constitution
Nepal’s much-awaited Constitution Amendment Bill, which includes proportionate representation and allocation of parliamentary seats on the basis of population — addressing two major demands of agitati
Nepal’s much-awaited Constitution Amendment Bill, which includes proportionate representation and allocation of parliamentary seats on the basis of population — addressing two major demands of agitating Indian-origin Madhesi parties — was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
The Reconstruction Authority Bill which was also tabled will help expedite post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the country that was rocked by two devastating earthquakes in April and May that killed over 9,000 people.
The main Opposition Nepali Congress had been obstructing the government’s move to table the Reconstruction bill alone, while NC had insisted that both the bills should be tabled simultaneously.
Chairman of bill committee Ganga Chaudhary tabled the bill related to Reconstruction Authority while minister of law Agni Kharel tabled the Constitution Amendment Bill.
However, legislators of the Madhesi parties had opposed the move saying that they want the major parties to first address their demands related to re-demarcation of provincial boundaries, the key demand of the Madhesis, before tabling the Constitution Amendment Bill. Nepali Congress legislator Nabindra Raj Joshi said the Constitution Amendment Bill was tabled in the Parliament to address the demands put forth by the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front.
If the bill is endorsed by Parliament, it would help in resolving the ongoing crisis in southern Nepal, he said. The Constitution Amendment Bill was registered by the previous Nepali Congress-led government under the premiership of Sushil Koirala.
Meanwhile, a team headed by Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum Democratic (MPRF-D) and deputy prime minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar met Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and urged him to implement the eight-point agreement the party had reached with the government earlier. The memorandum submitted to Mr Oli contains demands to declare those who died during Terai-Madhes agitation as martyrs and provide compensation to those whose houses were destroyed.
