Lawmakers have underlined the need of incorporating the revision suggested by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) before endorsing the Constitution Amendment Bill, deliberations on which have started since Monday.

 Speaking in Parliament, lawmakers said protests cropped up in the Tarai-Madhes region, as some of their demands were not addressed at the time of promulgation of the new constitution. They advised their leadership and the government not to take any decision in haste and to try to seal a deal with Madhes-based parties using prudence.

The SLMM has been objecting to the government move of tabling the Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament, saying “it does not address” their concerns.

The amendment bill was tabled on December 15.  

Nepali Congress lawmaker Ananda Prasad Dhungana said dissatisfaction has emerged in Madhes as their aspirations were not accommodated in new constitution. “Top leaders failed to implement their assurances, and that’s why there are problems. Now that should be addressed,” said Dhungana.

 CPN-UML leader Rajendra Pandey said the constitution must be amended to address the demands of Madhes-based parties.

He was of the view that no one should object to the amendment process. He said the country could face further problems if the amendment bill was endorsed without taking the consent of Madhes-based parties.

 UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Aman Lal Modi said problems had emerged after big parties showed reluctance to recognise the principle of

inclusive representation and address the demands of marginalised communities.

“The Constitution Amendment Bill should address the demands of Tharu, Madhesi, Janajati and other marginalised communities,” said Modi.

NC lawmaker Nagendra Kumal said the new constitution has not addressed the aspirations of Janajati, Madhesi and marginalised communities. “In the past, we registered amendment proposal on the same issue, but that was blocked, which as a result gave rise to problems that we are seeing now,” said Kumal.

 UML lawmaker Yagya Raj Sunuwar echoed Kumal, saying that the Constitution Amendment Bill should address the demands of Madhesi and Janajati constituencies.

Major parties, as per an understanding reached among them, have decided to take a “go-slow” approach.

They have said negotiations with Madhes-based parties will continue as deliberations on the amendment bill are carried out in Parliament.

The agitating Madhesi Morcha too has said that it is ready to accept the major parties’ proposal on redrawing provincial boundaries through a political mechanism in three months, as proposed by the government, but it has said the major parties must come up with a concrete proposal in that regard.

Major parties too have said they are ready to accept a revision proposal, if the Morcha has any.