Altogether 58 Madhesi and Tharu CA members have demanded revision in the delineation of federal provinces, delineation of electoral constituencies based on population, an end to discriminatory provisions on citizenship based on gender, and a constitutional guarantee to ensure proportional representation of Madhesis and Tharus in all state structures.The CA members have threatened to defy the party's decision to register joint amendment proposals if their demands in the memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and the party's senior leaders are not incorporated in the new statute. The CA members have argued that their five-point demand will address the demands put forth by the agitating parties in Tarai-Madhes and also help douse the prolonged agitation against the existing provisions in the constitution bill.
The threat from Madhesi and Tharu lawmakers comes at a time when the NC CWC meeting on Tuesday formed a three-member taskforce headed by its chief whip, Chin Kaji Shrestha, to prepare joint amendment proposals on the constitution. CA members Bimalendra Nidhi and other Madhesi and Tharu lawmakers have long been putting forth these demands to the party leadership.
Most CA members speaking during the meeting on Wednesday argued that the genuine concerns of the agitating parties need to be addressed in order to bring them on board the constitution making process. CA members from Madhes had complained that they were left feeling insecure in their own home villages due to the poor law and order situation in the aftermath of the agitations.
Speaking in the parliamentary party meeting held at Baluwatar on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said efforts are underway to draft a new statute incorporating the demands of various marginalized groups such as Madhesi, Tharus, women and indigenous nationalities. "We need to find a peaceful resolution of the problem. We are making efforts for the same," he said.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala directed CA members not to file individual amendment proposals to the constitution bill, but file only joint amendment proposals after holding consultations with the party's chief whip. "Let's maintain party discipline. Let's jointly register amendment proposals, but not on individual basis," he said.
Senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said although he also has reservations over the draft statute there is a need to promulgate the new statute through the broadest possible consensus. Arguing that there have been conspiracies from various quarters to derail the constitution making process, Deuba argued that separate commissions on Madhesi, Tharus, indigenous nationalities, women and Dalits needed to be formed to address their demands.
Related story
Lawmakers submit 45 statute amendment proposals; ruling allianc...
-1779842101.webp)
