Kathmandu, December 1st 2016 : The main opposition CPN (UML) boycotted the today’s meeting of the Legislature-Parliament, protesting against the registration of the constitution amendment bill.
With the commencement of the meeting that began at 13:00 pm, UML lawmakers stood up from their respective seats in a gesture of their dissatisfaction over the government move. Then, Speaker Onsari Gharti gave time to UML Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam to put his views.
Stating that the amendment proposal was against the spirit of the constitution and federalism, Gautam claimed, “The CA-turned Parliament had no rights to make changes in the boundaries of provinces.”
The amendment bill that was introduced to the House, focusing on the issues of language, citizenship and boundaries of provinces, is against the interests of the nation and national integrity, he said, adding that the bill brought going against the principle of federalism has ended the government’s morality to stay in power.
The path the nation is taking due to the government and the ruling parties’ negligence would end in destruction, he said, pointing out that the amendment proposal is not acceptable for the party under any circumstances. Gautam informed the House that CPN (ML), Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party and Rastriya Janamorcha also are against the amendment proposal.
In response to Gautam’s statement, Onsari Gharti, recalling a role of the political understanding to bring the country’s politics to this course, said, “An understanding among political parties is the prime need of the hour.”
Though she called on the UML lawmakers to take their seats stating that the matter relating to the constitution amendment was not in the meeting agenda, the lawmakers declined to sit down and the Speaker announced the postponement of the meeting.
At today’s meeting, the Speaker was due to read out a letter received from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers regarding the expansion of the Cabinet. Likewise, deliberations on the impeachment motion against Chief (now suspended) of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Lokman Singh Karki, was in the meeting agenda.
The next meeting has been summoned for 15:00 pm tomorrow.
