Sunday's CA meeting has set September 5 deadline for lawmakers to register their amendment proposals if they want any revision in the bill. The draft constitution tabled last week by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) for theoretical discussion was endorsed by an overwhelming majority in the CA for further proceedings.
CA members are expected to file amendment proposals seeking revision in the demarcation of federal provinces; removal of the word secularism from the preamble; setting threshold for political parties to get elected to parliament; and rights concerning special and protected zones.
Major political parties have been holding informal negotiations on the issues to be added and revised in the final draft through amendment process in order to address the demands put forth by various agitating groups across the country.
Leaders of major parties have assured agitating groups and communities of addressing their demands in the new constitution through the amendment process. According to the CA regulations, any amendment proposal endorsed by a two-thirds majority in the CA shall be included in the new constitution.
The full house of CA held deliberations for five days on the revised draft of the new statute tabled by the CDC. Responding to queries from lawmakers during the deliberations, CDC Chairman Krishna Sitaula urged political parties not to walk out from the CA meetings and attend the meetings to seek solutions. "Solutions can be found within the CA, not outside it as the CA process allows revision in the draft statute," said Sitaula.
Hinting at the protests in various parts of the country, Sitaula said violent protests would not help the agitators to get their concerns incorporated in the constitution.
Sitaula stressed that constitution could not satisfy all people as it is a document of compromise between political parties with differing ideologies and agendas.
Addressing the CA meeting, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) Senior Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba argued that, since Tharu ethnic groups are marginalized for years, areas that are heavily populated by the members of Tharu community should be granted the status of autonomous zone or protected zones.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam said that there is no alternative to creating provinces with full rights under a powerful central government. "If this reality is not accepted, Nepal may return to unitary, monolithic system," Gautam said at the CA meeting.
He pointed out that Nepal's civilization, cultural and economic development have been taking place for ages along the river basins such as Mechi, Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali and Mahakali rivers. "The provinces should be delineated keeping these rivers in mind. Provinces stretching north-south can be the most practical and reflect our reality," he said.
Likewise, NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi proposed forming a talks team by the CA for dialogue with agitating Madhesi and other groups. He argued that political parties should heed the demands put forth by the agitating Tharus and Madhesis.
While highlighting some of the provisions in the new statute, Nidhi argued provisions related to citizenship and delineation of federal provinces need amendments. He also said that there is a possibility to delineate three provinces across the Tarai-Madhes.
UCPN (Maoist) Chief Whip Giriraj Mani Pokharel proposed creating eight provinces in order to address the demands put forth by the Tharus. He argued that the demands put forth by the indigenous groups can be addressed by creating autonomous zones, protected zones and special zones.
Also speaking on the occasion, Ram Janam Chaudhary argued that conflict can't be resolved if the new statute is promulgated without addressing the demands of agitating Tharu groups.
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