Valley
Discussion on statute revision bill delayed
With much of the country coming under a deluge caused by days of cloudburst, lawmakers are busy visiting flood-hit areas, affecting discussion on the constitution amendment proposal that could be delayed by a few more days.With much of the country coming under a deluge caused by days of cloudburst, lawmakers are busy visiting flood-hit areas, affecting discussion on the constitution amendment proposal that could be delayed by a few more days.
In a landmark development on Friday, leaders of the agitating Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal agreed with Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) leaders to join the third phase of local level elections in Province 2. They had also agreed to put the amendment proposal to a vote in Parliament on Tuesday.
However, the amendment proposal is not on the tentative working list of the Legislature-Parliament. On Tuesday, more than 90 deaths and the widespread destruction caused by floods and landslides might be a priority for discussion in Parliament.
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Yagya Bahadur Thapa said Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was serious about the amendment issue but the task could be delayed due to the natural disaster.
He, however, said the government would make efforts to secure a two-thirds majority in favour of the proposal in the House. Nepali Congress Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha said the government would first hold discussions with the RJP-N leaders and the main opposition on how to go about the amendments before starting deliberation in Parliament.
The Maoist Centre Parliamentary Board has decided to take initiatives for endorsing the amendment proposal. Party Chief Whip Rekha Sharma said the natural disaster gets top national priority. Maoist lawmakers were also for finalising bills on elections and adjustment of civil servants in the federal set-up, which have been stuck at parliamentary committees.