Maoists reject suggestion for 'concise statute'
With just 80 days remaining for expiry of the deadline to adopt a new constitution, leaders of all 25 parties in Nepal parliament agreed on Tuesday not to delay the constitution drafting process.
With just 80 days remaining for expiry of the deadline to adopt a new constitution, leaders of all 25 parties in Nepal parliament agreed on Tuesday not to delay the constitution drafting process.
"This is a positive step. If we all agree on the major issues the new constitution will get adopted by the May 28 deadline," said Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal after a meeting of the Constitutional Committee.
On Sunday, Chairman of Constituent Assembly Subhash Nembang had stated that if the parties agree on the main issues, the country could adopt a concise statute instead of a detailed constitution to meet the deadline.
Political impasse due to differences among the major parties has led to delays in the constitution drafting process including the Constitution Committee failing to meet the March 5 deadline to submit the first draft.
The draft was not completed on time as lawmakers from different parties failed to agree on the reports of the nine thematic committees on time. Till date there have been 10 amendments to the constitution-drafting calendar.
Opposition Maoists have also rejected the suggestion for a 'concise statute'. "The constitution must be promulgated by May 28 and it should be a complete one," said Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', chairman of UCPN (Maoist)-Nepal's largest party in the Constituent Assembly.
Emerging from the CC meeting he said that the May 28 deadline could be met if there is a comprehensive debate on restructuring of the country and the system of governance to be adopted for the new states.