Jha: Insult if Prez, VP sent home sans constitution

KATHMANDU, DEC 10 -
At a time when some political sections are calling for the removal of the President and the Vice President as a consequence of the second Constituent Assembly election, VP Paramananda Jha on Monday said it would be an insult on him and the head of state if they were sent packing without promulgating a new constitution.

“The objectives of these two posts will be fulfilled only after the promulgation of the constitution; if we are sent home without a constitution, it will be a humiliation for us,” Jha said.

At a programme organised by Reporters’ Club at Jha’s residence, he said constitution-writing was their main concern rather than an extension of their tenures. “We have no desire to hold on to our posts any longer.”

The Vice President asked the political parties to understand that the term of the first President would be meaningful if the country got a constitution under his stewardship.

Jha said that changing the President at this hour would mean sending him out with dishonour, adding that everyone wants to leave their post in a dignified manner.

The term of the President lasts “until a constitution is ready”, Jha said, expressing his desire for promulgating the constitution drafted in the involvement of all the parties in consensus.

Jha urged the major parties to engage in statute-drafting the UCPN (Maoist)—which is dissatisfied with the election results—and the CPN-Maoist—which boycotted the polls.

Labels: News