KATHMANDU, March 30: Nepali Congress Central Working Committee on Monday decided to stand for a parliamentary model of democracy when the Constituent Assembly drafts a new constitution. [break]
Despite suggestions from a number of members to go for a new political system so as to give them a feel of change, the CWC meeting decided to suggest to the Constitutional Committee of the CA to draft a constitution in which the prime minister is directly accountable to parliament.
“We decided that the prime minister must be the executive head and the president the constitutional head,” said CWC member Binaya Dhwaj Chand, after the meeting.
"Nepali Congress wants to make it clear that we will not accept any kind of militancy, philosophy, notion or experiment of imposing authoritarian rule or a religious hegemony by any political party."
Some members including Narahari Acharya and Pradip Giri expressed their disagreement over the CWC decision, saying only the party´s Mahasamiti has the authority to decide on such issues. A group of about 25 NC leaders are opposed to Westminster model, arguing that it has not worked in Nepal. These leaders have urged the party to go for a system where the prime minister is directly elected by the people.
Speaking at a separate program in the capital Monday, Acharya cut through the argument that a directly elected PM woon´t be answerable to the parliament, saying it is only the House that makes laws, passes budget and holds the president in check.
But the meeting has kept open the option of further discussion on their suggestions. The CWC has decided to carry out further discussions on the details of the constitution.
“For the purpose of putting forth the party’s suggestions to the Constitutional Committee, we have decided to set out only a broader framework of the constitution,” said Chand. “We will discuss the nitty-gritty of the constitution in the days to come.”
The CWC has decided to stand for rule of law, universally accepted human rights, checks and balance and special privileges for women, dalits, Madhesis, the handicapped and backward regions while putting forth its concept to the Constitutional Committee Tuesday. Party president Girija Prasad Koirala is scheduled to set out the party’s concept on the future constitution.
"Nepali Congress wants to make it clear that we will not accept any kind of militancy, philosophy, notion or experiment of imposing authoritarian rule or a religious hegemony by any political party," states a concept paper prepared by the NC to present to the Constitutional Committee.
Speaking at the beginning of the meeting, party president Koirala said the Nepali Congress needs to stand clearly for a parliamentary system of democracy to keep intact its identity as the only democratic force. “In our concept of the constitution we have to demonstrate that we are unflinching in our commitment to parliamentary democracy,” party spokesperson Arjun Narsing KC quoted Koirala as saying.
The meeting also demanded that the government immediately set up a state restructuring commission to draw up the framework of the future state. The party has already made its stance clear concerning ways for restructuring the state. “But the government’s delay in forming a state restructuring commission has affected the process of discussion on the issue,” said KC.
The members also took up the issues of the Maoists’ “bullying attitude” while ruling the country, according to KC. “Especially the issues of the Maoists’ act of demoralizing the national army, massive transfer of government employees, attack on the judiciary and their reluctance to implement past agreements were discussed,” said KC.
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