“The marginalized community, women, Muslim and other oppressed groups will not get absolute rights if Madhesh is divided in the name of various provinces,” reads the election manifesto unveiled by the MPRF-N on Tuesday.[break]
The manifesto further says that only autonomous Madhes province could fulfill the aspirations of entire Madhesi communities living in the Tarai region.
The party has announced to adopt a system of governance similar to the UCPN (Maoist) in which a president elected directly by the people would have executive powers. “The president would chair a council of ministers,” said the party Chairman Upendra Yadav. He further said that the president would be responsible toward his cabinet.
"As per the MPRF-N-proposed system of governance, the president will enjoy major executive powers and he will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day governance and running the administration,” said Amresh Narayan Jha, a member of the manifesto drafting committee. “The Westminster model of governance can neither bring political stability, nor fulfill aspirations of various ethnic groups,” the manifesto further reads.
"The prime ministerial model has always invited political instability in the country," added Jha. He stressed that there would be some provisions in the constitution that would deter a president from turning into an autocrat. He further claimed that the prime ministerial model of governance has "totally failed in Nepal."
The manifesto further said that there should be both provincial assembly and central parliament. “There would be house of representative and national assembly at the center, while there would be uni-cameral parliament in the province,” the manifesto reads. “The house of representative would be chaired by a speaker, while the vice-president would chair the national assembly.”
It further said that the provincial government should be accountable to the provincial assembly.
The party has further proposed to form a three-tier court -- Supreme Court, Provincial Court, and Local Court. The party has also proposed formation of a constitutional court which will be responsible for overseeing constitutional issues related to the center and the province, among other issues.
Similarly, the party has said that decisions on issues with far reaching consequences should be made through referendum.
The party has also raised the issue of self-determination in its manifesto. “We have proposed that sovereign Nepalis should be free to exercise their right to self determination. On the other hand, the people can enjoy their rights to optimum level about the provincial structure,” added Jha.
On a separate context, the party has demanded that all mother tongues should get official language status. “Hindi should get recognition as other languages as it is lingua franca between Hill and Tarai community,” reads the manifesto.
Likewise, the party has said that corruption should not get political patronage. “The party would take initiative to draft a clear policy that would control corruption.” The manifesto further said that the properties earned through illegal means should be nationalized and the corrupt should be punished.
Describing that their party is equally sensitive to the need of Muslim community, the party manifesto reads, “The region having dense Muslim population should be announced as special region, Madrasa education should be mainstreamed, permanent Hajj committee should be set up, Hajj committee act should be drafted, formulation of family law for Muslim, representation on the basis of population...”
The party has also proposed lofty plans for economic transformation. “We have proposed that an economic policy should be drafted that will ensure private, public partnership in all economic activity,” said Jha. He further said that the foreign investments should be increased to ensure infrastructural developments in the country. “The foreign investments should be in the national interest and it should help in increment of productivity.”
MPRF-N has also envisaged revival of sick industries by providing additional economic and managerial assistance, to upgrade Nepal Stock Exchange, to establish multiple of industries, among others.
While describing their foreign policy, the manifesto said, “The party would maintain friendly relation with India, China, South Asian countries, and all other countries of globe,” reads the manifesto. The manifesto further said that the Nepali soil would not be used against any friendly countries.
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