Welcoming the progress made in the constitution drafting  process, India and the United States urged for maximum flexibility to reach a widest possible agreement.

Issuing a statement on Tuesday, the US Department of State said, “As the vote in the Constituent Assembly continues, we hope that the document that emerges embraces the creativity, inclusiveness, and flexibility that will build a peaceful and prosperous Nepal. The constitution should have the broadest possible support and the outcome should honour fundamental rights such as gender equality and basic freedoms.”

The US also urged Nepali citizens to engage through peaceful, non-violent means, and called on security forces to exercise restraint in responding to protests.

Similarly, Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj praised the maturity shown by Nepal’s political leadership in consolidating peace and inclusive multi-party constitutional democracy.

“We welcome and commend the recent progress achieved by the Constituent Assembly in the constitution drafting process, wherein several contentious issues have been resolved,” she said in a statement.

She also urged  the leaders to adopt maximum flexibility to reach a widest possible agreement on the constitution.

“We urge continuing flexibility on the part of all the political forces so that any outstanding issues are addressed through dialogue and widest possible agreement, in an atmosphere free from violence. A constitution, which is fully owned by and accommodates the aspirations of all regions and sections of the Nepali society, will lay a durable foundation for a peaceful and prosperous Nepal and will become the focal point for its bright future.”