The committee on Wednesday had proposed that members of a community or ethnic group which has the largest population in a given province be given political preference.This would mean that only members of the largest community would be eligible for important posts like chief minister of the province, for two terms. [break]
“Giving special right to a particular community is totally against basic democratic principles. We have been against it from the very beginning,” said co-chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) Jaya Prakash Gupta at a press meet jointly organized by MPRF, MPRF (Democratic), Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and Sadbhawana Party (SP) at Singha Durbar on Friday.
The four parties have termed the decision to define autonomous states and land policy by the CA committee as against the main spirit of federalism. “Defining the autonomous regions and land policy falls under the jurisdiction of future provinces. Also, several other rights that fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces have been given to the committee. We have concluded that this is encroachment on the jurisdiction of provinces and against the main spirit of federalism,” read a press statement jointly issued by Mahantha Thakur of TMDP, Gupta of MPRF, Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar of MPRF (D) and Rajendra Mahato of SP.
The four political parties have also taken exception to the committee´s decision to exclude several areas, including Nawalpur of Nawalparasi, southern part of Chitwan, Kankrebihar of Surkhet, Kamala Khoch of Sindhuli, Gaighat of Udayapur from Madhes. They also objected to names given to the proposed provinces. They have reiterated their demand for ´a single Madhes province´. The committee decided to carve two provinces in the Tarai and a separate Narayani province comprising Chitwan and adjoining areas.
Divided on protest priority
While Gupta of MPRF, which is in the opposition, said that the parties would aggressively go for protests against the proposed federal model, delineation and other provisions, other leaders -- Thakur, Gachchhadar and Mahato -- said they would keep on raising the issues in the CA till the last.
MPRF-D, TMDP and SP are in the ruling coalition.
"We will keep on struggling to incorporate our agenda through the CA. That is our priority,” said Deputy Prime Minister Gachchhadar, adding that going to the people could always be an option for a political party.
Stating that there is no coordination among the four Madhes-based parties, Thakur said that the TMDP is for raising the issues in the CA itself. “We will continue to insist to get our agenda passed in the CA," he said.
Chitwan for national capital recommended
The four Madhes-based parties also recommended that shifting the national capital to Chitwan could be a justified step. However, they didn´t elucidate the rationale behind the recommendation.
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