PM says he will visit India only after presenting constitution amendment proposal in House

Kathmandu / Aug 23: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said he will embark on India visit only after presenting a proposal on the amendment of the constitution in Parliament and readying election-related laws.

“I am preparing to go on a visit to India after making the election-related laws and presenting a proposal of amending the constitution to address the demands of the parties associated to the Madhesi Front,” the Prime Minister said in a meeting with media persons at his official residence at Baluwatar this evening.

The Prime Minister said that he was committed to creating an environment conducive to the election and completing the necessary legal process for the same while addressing the national need and the nation’s aspirations.

“The CPN (Maoist Centre) which is heading the government needs the election the most and I am committed accordingly,” he said adding that he had held discussion on the matter with the Election Commission also and talks were being held with the ruling coalition partners to that end. PM Dahal said informal discussions are also being held with the main opposition party, the CPN (UML) and he was striving to convert that to the formal level.

Stating that he has laid special emphasis on constitution amendment proposal as the Madhes-centric parties too needed to be brought into confidence regarding the constitution amendment and the election, he said this was the only key option to bolster the internal unity of the country.

Prime Minister Dahal opined that he got the post of Prime Minister as a challenging and risky, adding, “Holding the local body election is as important and challenging for me and the government I lead as issuing the constitution from the Constituent Assembly. I will fulfill this responsibility.”

Claiming that the previous government was changed after it was realised that the CPN (UML) leadership was reluctant to hold the local body election, the Prime Minister said the UML turned unsupportive regarding the holding of local polls as it seemed during the promulgation of the constitution.

“I decided to take steps for the government change as I realised that the KP Sharma Oli-led government was not interested in holding the local election,” the CPN (Maoist Center) Chair said.

He said the Nepali Congress and his party were the major partners of the peace process while the UML had just a facilitator’s role and the equation for the incumbent government was formed as our party realised that main agenda of the nation would get sidelined if its alliance with the Congress was overlooked. PM Dahal went on saying that UML allowed the promulgation of the new constitution after it was ensured that it was given the leadership of a new government.

He expressed his hope an alliance between the Congress and his party would create a ground conducive for enforcing the constitution and concluding the remaining task of the peace process. However, our efforts for bringing the UML to these processes would continue, he added.

Stating that the issue of restructuring of local bodies has become more complicated, he said that his party has been moving ahead with a preparation of making maximum 1,000 village units.

Prime Minister Dahal argued that autonomous area and special protected area would be incorporated as per the provision of the new constitution and a decision would be drawn on it on the basis of consensus soon.

Noting that the works are underway based on Term of Reference given by the government to the Local Bodies’ Restructuring Commission, he said that disputed issues would be finalized on the consensus of Madhes-centric parties.

He expressed the view that consensus of all was necessary for the local polls as it would pave the way for the formation of the national assembly.

The Prime Minister said that he has been taking initiatives in order to give the feel to the people that there is government for the poor, saying the government would move ahead addressing the matters related to the daily life of the people. RSS