Valley
RJP-N rejects proposal to put statute revision bill to vote
The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) on Wednesday told the governing parties that it was not for putting the constitution amendment bill to vote in Parliament and called for addressing its other demands.The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) on Wednesday told the governing parties that it was not for putting the constitution amendment bill to vote in Parliament and called for addressing its other demands.
During a meeting with top leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre), RJP-N leaders said that there was no point putting the constitution amendment bill to vote if the governing parties could not ensure its endorsement.
The NC and the Maoist Centre though had promised constitution amendment, a key demand of the RJP-N, they lack the required numbers in Parliament to pass
the bill.
The leaders of the ruling parties had conveyed to the RJP-N during Wednesday’s meeting that they were ready to put the constitution amendment bill to vote if the agitating party leaders were ready to accept the result.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is learnt to have told the RJP-N leaders that the governing parties tried their best to secure required votes to pass the constitution amendment bill, but to no avail, as the opposition bloc led by the CPN-UML, which is dead set against constitution amendment, refused to budge from its stance.
“We made honest efforts to garner two-thirds votes,” sources quoted PM Deuba as telling the RJP-N leaders.
RJP-N Coordinator Mahantha Thakur is learnt to have told the governing parties to address the party’s other demands.
The RJP-N’s other demands include increasing the number of local units, declaring those killed during Madhes protests martyrs, compensation to the injured and withdrawal of cases against cadres and leaders in relation to Madhes and Tharuhat movements.
The governing parties also sought to know whether the RJP-N would participate in the third phase of local polls scheduled for September 18 in Province 2 if the government addressed their other demands. But the RJP-N refused to commit to polls.
The RJP-N did not participate in the first phase of local elections held on May 14 and boycotted the second round held on June 28. The government had decided to reschedule voting in Province 2 in a bid to address the RJP-N’s demands. But the RJP-N has refrained from committing to polls, saying none of its demands has been addressed yet.
According to the PM’s Secretariat, the prime minister told the RJP-N leaders that his Cabinet would address their other demands once it gets full shape.
PM Deuba is yet to give full shape to his Cabinet even more than a month after assuming office.
The governing parties on Tuesday finalised ministries for them and other parties who would be joining the government, hoping a Cabinet expansion on Wednesday.
The delay in Cabinet expansion has also pushed back the formation of the Constitution Delimitation Commission, which will carve out constituencies, bringing the number down to 165 from existing 240.
Senior NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi said that since the RJP-N did not accept the ruling parties’ proposal to put the constitution amendment bill to vote, Cabinet expansion has been delayed. It will happen most likely on Sunday, he said.