KATHMANDU:- The task force formed to prepare the constitution amendment discussion paper is in the final phase of writing its report.
The task force was formed under the coordination of the Prime Minister’s political advisor, Asim Shah. The task force is also preparing to submit its report to Prime Minister Balendra Shah within the extended deadline.
However, some political parties that participated in the process of preparing the constitution amendment discussion paper have announced of leaving the task force at the flag end of the procedure, expressing their disagreement.
The task force has stated that the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) and Loktantrik Samajwadi Party sent a joint letter on July 6, informing that they would not be able to participate in the next meetings of the task force. It may be noted that these politicians were regularly participating in the process since the first meeting of the task force, giving their opinions and suggestions and also participating in discussions with stakeholders.
Task force coordinator Shah said the parties had not raised any objections to the preparation of the discussion paper for 83 days after its formation. The strategy behind the objections at the last moment of preparing the report might be to make the task force fail, he said.
Mohan Lal Acharya, a member of the task force and MP, said that it was irresponsible on the part of the political parties to withdraw at a crucial time when the discussion paper has to be prepared for amending the constitution.
According to Pushkar Sapkota, Legal Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, all the political parties represented in the parliament have been continuously participating in the task force that is preparing the discussion paper. In addition to the parties represented in the parliament, the task force also includes other political parties and the law secretaries of the government.
“Leaving the process of preparing a discussion paper to amend a dynamic and vibrant document like the constitution will send a negative message to the public and may arouse discontent towards political parties,” said Leeladhar Subedi, member-secretary of the task force and joint secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Even though the parties ultimately left the task force, preparations are underway to prepare a discussion paper and submit it to the Council of Ministers within the stipulated time, said Coordinator Shah.
The task force has so far collected suggestions from people from various fields, including constitutional experts, lawyers, politicians, professionals, civil society, women’s rights activists, former attorneys general and former administrators, through online means.
It has also collected suggestions from 44,700 citizens in the country and abroad. The task force has also studied the reports of various committees of the then Constituent Assembly.