Dahal also instructed the party's lawmakers to stand united against elements that are hell-bent on creating problems and eventually thwarting the ongoing constitution-making process."Promulgating a new constitution through the CA is our top priority at this crucial juncture. So none of us should get confused and we should all put in every effort to that end," Dahal told the lawmakers at the party's parliamentary party meeting, Wednesday. "Completing the task of constitution making without any further delay has become urgent as failure to do so may cost the major achievements attained after long political struggle."
Dahal suggested to the party lawmakers to remain alert against the possible risks that may arise if the constitution making process gets derailed.
"He [Dahal] said the political course may be pushed into serious crisis and some elements may plot a counter revolution," UCPN (Maoist) Whip Rekha Sharma told Republica. "He also instructed the lawmakers not to be talem in by any conspiracy to foil the broader objective of producing a new constitution."
Dahal, however, was quick to clarify that the party will fight for the legitimate demands of the agitating political parties and other groups such as women, Dalits and other marginalized communities until the very last minutes for amending the draft constitution.
"We will try our best to address some of the valid demands so that the agitating parties can feel ownership of the new constitution," Sharma quoted Dahal as saying at the meeting. "But we at the same time should identify those who are trying to foil the constitution making process by raising some impractical demands."
Dahal's instructions to his party lawmakers come at a time when the agitating parties have tried to intensify their protests in several parts of the country and there are apprehensions in political circles whether the major political parties would stand together.
The UCPN (Maoist) has also decided to register amendments to the constitution bill jointly with other major parties so that they can be endorsed by a two-thirds vote in the full CA.
"Our first priority will be to register the amendments jointly with other major parties because this is essential if these amendments are to be made result-oriented," said Sharma.
The party will register its independent amendment proposals if the major parties can't make common cause on certain issues.
Likewise, the party is also likely to allow some lawmakers to register amendments at their individual initiative if they think these are very vital from the perspective of the community, gender or region they represent.
"But we have requested waiting until Friday when we will take an appropriate decision on what to do in such a situation," said Sharma.
The UCPN (Maoist) took the decision after two other major parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, strictly instructed their lawmakers not to register any separate amendments, fearing that such a move may create problems in securing a two-thirds majority over any article in the new constitution.
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