Leaders of key political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly on Wednesday claimed that they were very close to a deal on disputed issues of the new constitution.
Speaking at a function organized by GP Koirala Foundation to mark the 5th Memorial Day of Late GP Koirala, who was the first head of state of republic Nepal and former prime minister, they stressed on due process for constitution promulgation, although they had doubts a full consensus was possible.
Foundation chairwoman and daughter of late Koirala, Sujata Koirala, CPN-UML senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal, Nepali Congress spokesperson Dilendra Badu, UCPN-Maoist leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Madhes Sadhavabana Party chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav argued that it could be a true tribute to late Koirala if the parties promulgated constitution through the CA.
Remembering late Koirala as successful political leader in the movements against the Rana regime, Panchayat and king’s direct rule, they said the present crisis should be ended following the path of talks, collaboration and consensus taken by late Koirala.
Khanal said that the bone of contention of the new constitution was policy and ideological differences about the five districts – Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa in east and Kailali and Kanchanpur in the west.
“Girija Babu said that provinces should be carved out on South-North line as there are vast differences between mountains, hills and Terai,” Khanal said. “It could be a guideline to ink deal on federalism,” he added.
He denied one Madhes province and ethnic federalism.
According to Khanal, there are three options to resolve the disputed issues – full consensus, maximum consensus or partial consensus.
He said due process needs to be adopted to promulgate the constitution following 12-point agreement, peace accord, interim constitution and people’s mandate.
NC leader and Foundation chairwoman Koirala said that constitution should be promulgated keeping federalism on hold if consensus among the political parties is elusive.
NC spokesperson Badu said parties had reached an understanding on all issues except boundary of the provinces and their names.
UCPN-Maoist leader Rayamajhi also claimed that there was 99 per cent agreement on the contents of constitution.
“We have disputes over the five districts. Five leaders obstructed inking the deal,” he said.
Urging leaders to rise above those five districts, Rayamajhi said that the parties had agreed on six provinces so there was no problem on number.
CPN-Maoist spokesperson Pumpha Bhusal said that late Koirala did politics keeping people and the country in the forefront.
Madhes Sadabhawana Party chairman Yadav argued that the constitution would have been promulgated earlier if the parties had agreed on late Koirala as the first President of the country.
At the function, Dr. Ram Prasad Thapaliya presented a working paper, while NC leader Purusottam Basnet highlighted late Koirala’s contributions to national politics.
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