Nationwide campaign launched to raise awareness on statute

Kathmandu / December 7: A month-long nationwide awareness campaign aimed at clarifying the confusion spread about the recently promulgated constitution has kicked off today.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli marked the launching of the campaign entitled ‘Nepal’s Constitution-Peoples’ Constitution; Peoples’ Constitution among the People’ amid a function in the capital city. The campaign is expected to raise awareness among the people about new constitution.

Inaugurating the campaign, PM Oli said that the newly promulgated constitution has materialized the seven-decade-long expectation of the people and it has institutionalized the achievements of different people’s movements.

PM Oli further added that the constitution has ensured the rights of people from all classes, gender and religions; and has adopted the principle of absolute inclusiveness adding that confusion spread against it should be clarified.

Similarly, Speaker Onsari Ghartimagar stressed the need for creating awareness to the people over the features of new constitution as it has institutionalized the federalism, secularism, inclusiveness among other achievements of the peoples’ movement.

She added that the dissatisfaction of people regarding the constitution could be addressed through unity and co-work among the political parties.

Likewise, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Kamal Thapa added that the new constitution is the best one, as it has ensured full-fledged freedom, flexible provision for amendment of the constitution, provision of periodic elections among others. He added that the constitution has treated all equally.

Similarly, UCPN (Maoist) chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the constitution is the progressive, inclusive and democratic in comparison to previous constitutions, as it was issued through the constituent assembly (CA). He added that the constitution was incomparable in the world regarding the principles of inclusiveness.

Chairman Dahal further said that the genuine demands of the protesting parties should be addressed but there shall be no compromise in national unity and sovereignty.

Similarly, Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that the demands of protesting parties would be addressed if the constitution amendment proposal tabled in the parliament was passed. He added that the protesting parties’ demands could be addressed by forming political committee in this connection.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Pashupati Shumsher Rana pointed out the need of resolving the burning issues even by addressing the right demands of the protesting parties in Tarai.

Also speaking at the programme, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) Vice-chair Nasir Siddhiki said that the Tarai issues could be resolved if his party’s proposal of forming eight provinces model was adopted.

Similarly, former CA chair Subas Nembang said that the constitution had adopted the principle of inclusiveness and proportional representation.

It is learnt that campaign would be organized in all 75 districts and Prime Minister, DPMs, Ministers, former PMs and top politicians would join the campaign to be organized in the district headquarters.

The campaign would work to avert the confusion regarding the new constitution and would disseminate the features of the constitution through interaction programmes among all sides and areas of the people. The government expects that the campaign would help generate ownership of the new constitution to the people. RSS