CA meeting postponed till Monday

The Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting scheduled to take place Saturday afternoon has been postponed till 11:00 am Monday following the announcement of the Terai parties that they would continue to disrupt the session, opposing the supplementary constitution amendment bill prepared by the government.

CA members who had gathered at the CA hall were informed about the postponement through a notice. The government was expected to introduce the bill in today's meeting.

Leaders of three Terai parties - Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party and Sadbhawana Party - had met earlier today, deciding to continue their protest. They said the supplementary bill failed to address their demands.

A cabinet meeting had passed the supplementary bill yesterday after it was agreed by five political parties of the seven-party alliance.

Three major parties - CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) - claim that the amendment in the constitution will not only address the demands of the Terai-based parties but also of others including indigenous groups.

The draft bill states that delineation of federal units will be done by the proposed State Restructuring Commission as per the agreements reached with various groups including Madhesi parties.

Terai parties have obstructed eight consecutive sittings of the CA since June 26 demanding constitutional guarantee of 'autonomous Madhes province' and 'group entry' of the Madhesis into Nepal Army.

While signing an agreement with the Madhesi parties early this year, the government had accepted these demands. nepalnews.com mk July 05 08