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Constitution not scripture can be revised, says PM Oli
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is ready to amend the constitution in accordance with the needs of the country and the people.Ajit Tiwari & Santosh Singh
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is ready to amend the constitution in accordance with the needs of the country and the people.
“We’ll amend the constitution and revise the laws if necessary. The constitution we drafted is not a scripture that must not be changed,” PM Oli said in his address to the Province 2 Assembly in Janakpur on Saturday. He stressed that the constitution promulgated three years ago as a dynamic document was aimed at spurring development in the country.
In a speech that lasted one hour and thirty-eight minutes, Oli, also the Nepal Communist Party co-chairman, tried to address the grievances of the Madhesi people mainly over some constitutional provisions. The PM clarified that he was never against amending the constitution.
The Madhes-based parties have been pressing for revising the charter since it was promulgated on September 20, 2015 saying that the document does not guarantee the rights of the Madhesi people. After the historic provincial elections held last year, the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal formed the coalition government in Province 2.
“I never said that the constitution cannot be amended. How can a man involved in politics for 50 years say that the constitution cannot be amended?” questioned Oli. Claiming that the constitution and the existing laws do not discriminate against any group, he assured that the government was ready to forward an amendment bill if anyone points out discriminatory provisions in the statute.
On citizenship, another concern of most Madhesis, Oli assured hassle-free access to the certificate. The executive head asserted that the issues of citizenship would be resolved by mid-September as the government had already registered an amendment bill in Parliament.
Assurance for development
PM Oli promised development activities in Province 2. He asserted that railway and ship services would be operated from the plains-only province. The PM shared his plans to develop the province attaching priority to agriculture, irrigation, road and railway sectors.
Besides completing the Nijgadh International Airport, Kathmandu-Nijgadh express road, and the Postal Highway, Oli pledged to establish a university and a government medical college in the province.
Three RJP-N lawmakers boycott Oli’s address
Three provincial lawmakers of the RJP-N boycotted PM Oli’s address to the provincial assembly. Lawmakers Upendra Mahato, Gauri Narayan Sah and Bikki Yadav walked out soon after Speaker Saroj Yadav convened the meeting. They clarified that they had boycotted the event accusing the government of not addressing the issues of Madhes.
Meanwhile, police briefly detained some people as they attempted to wave black flags at the PM.