KATHMANDU, Sept 18: The Constituent Assembly (CA) Committee on Distribution of Natural Resources, Financial Rights and Public Revenue on Friday decided in favor of allowing the government to seize the land above the ceiling set by a pragmatic/revolutionary land reform program to be adopted in the future. [break]
The decision was, however, not unanimous. Committee members representing the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and Madhes-based parties were in favor of including a provision for compensation to the owners of such land in case of acquisition by the state. But Maoist members passed the provision without any provision for compensation. Members of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and MPRF (Democratic) were absent in the meeting.
However, the provision to be included in the preliminary draft report and concept paper prepared by the committee must be endorsed by a two-thirds majority of the CA for inclusion in the future constitution.
Those opposing the provision had requested committee chairperson Amrita Thapa not to table the provision for decision in the meeting as large number of the committee members were absent. But Thapa, who is a Maoist CA member, turned down the request and announced that "the meeting passed the provision through a majority and any member who wants to register a note of dissent can file it until Sunday".
Following her announcement, all non-Maoist members of the committee expressed serious objections to the decision process.
Laxman Ghimire, who is also the chief whip of the NC, termed it as an unfortunate decision. "We are saddened by the sudden decision taken by the chairperson while many of our friends were absent in the meeting," Ghimire said.
UML member Bijay Poudel also termed it unfortunate. "I am shocked as the decision was taken in a dramatic manner by rejecting our request to provide at least 24 hours so that other friends would be able to participate in the decision making process on such a crucial issue," Poudel said.
Likewise, Subindra Devi Ray Yadav of TMDP and Ram Naresh Ray of SP expressed objections to the decision.
The non-Maoist members present in the meeting claimed that the chairperson took the decision as part of the Maoist strategy to pass their agenda through the CA committe when the members of other parties were absent in the meeting. Had the committee waited for another day, the proposal would have been rejected as the majority members of the committee are against it.
thira@myrepublica.com
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