Deadline ends for new Constitution, Nepal lawmakers intensify stir

Nepalese riot police stand guard near the constitutional assembly
building in Kathmandu. (AFP photo)

EOI & PTI, Kathmandu, 23 Jan 2015:Nepal's opposition lawmakers led by Maoists on Friday intensified their protests over a new constitution leading to fresh chaos in parliament, a day after the House missed the deadline to promulgate the new statute. The Parliament session in Kathmandu ended without agreeing on its draft amid chaotic scenes late on Thursday night.

The opposition lawmakers chanted slogans and jumped into the well of the main chamber as soon as the Parliament opened, though three hours behind schedule.

"Announce a constitution based on consensus," the protesting lawmakers chanted.

They even overpowered and stopped Nepali Congress chief whip Chin Kaji Shrestha when he headed towards the main well to read out proposals to constitute a Questionnaire Committee as part of the process to draft a new constitution.

The UCPN (Maoist)-led alliance of 19 parties has been obstructing the CA meet since Monday to prevent the process of forming a Questionnaire Committee for resolving the sticky issues of Constitution through a vote.

The ruling and opposition alliances are sharply divided on key issues in the Constitution drafting including federal structure and forms of governance.

Opposition parties' also demand ethnic identity-based federal structure in the new constitution which was supposed to be promulgated by January 22. Parliament Speaker Subhash Nembang during the day asked lawmakers to end their protests and urged them to secure an agreement or be prepared for a vote, before adjourning the assembly until Sunday.

"People want answers from us, they are watching us and they are waiting," Nembang said.

The ruling alliance has the two-third parliamentary majority they need to approve a constitution without the opposition's support.

But the former Maoists have threatened of further conflict if they fail to take opposition views into account.

The Joint Madhesi Front, meanwhile, has called a meeting of seven Madhes-based parties tomorrow to chalk out their strategy for Sunday's CA session.

On Thursday night, Nembang called emergency talks to resolve the contentious issues. However, an agreement could not be reached and the meeting was adjourned.

The effort by Madhesi leader Vijaya Kumar Gachhadar to find a middle path to resolve the key issues also did not succeed after Maoist chief Prachanda rejected the move.