Cong panel for ‘political dialogue committee’ in CA

KATHMANDU, JAN 10 -
A Nepali Congress panel formed to recommend ways to take the constitution-writing process ahead has proposed a “political dialogue committee” representing all the political parties in the Constituent Assembly. The panel would replace the Constitutional Committee that existed in the first CA.

The Constitution Writing Suggestions Committee headed by NC lawmaker Narahari Acharya came up with the proposal for the party to consider, leaders said. The plan was presented on Thursday jointly to President Sushil Koirala, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel.

“We have suggested reducing the number of committees in the CA so that debate and discourse will be confined to the full House,” said committee spokesman Nabindra Raj Joshi. The panel is for limiting the number of committees to three while there were more than a dozen in the previous Assembly. “We have proposed only three committees—political committee, draft committee and public opinion and relations committee.

If necessary, subcommittees may be formed,” he said. The idea is to get the whole attention of lawmakers for proceedings in the Assembly.

A motive behind the measures is to discourage top leaders from seeking solutions outside the sovereign CA, said a panelist. The CA Regulations provision one Constitutional Committee, 10 thematic committees and two procedural committees. The NC panel has suggested amendment to Article 11 of the Regulations besides amending the procedure to approve bills tabled in the CA.

The panel has identified the model of federalism, form of governance and electoral system as most contentious issues among the parties. The constitution draft readied by the draft committee would be taken to all the 240 electoral constituencies, Village Development Committees, municipalities and wards by CA members seeking public opinion.

Meanwhile, the NC has instructed all its lawmakers to submit their opinions, feedbacks and suggestions within five days to the Acharya-led committee.

The party has sought suggestions mainly on the issues of federalism, form of governance, and electoral system. A meeting between central members and newly elected lawmakers was held in Sanepa on Thursday to discuss the working procedure of the CA to promulgate a new constitution within a year.

Party spokesman Dilendra Prasad Badu said Koirala, Poudel and Deuba emphasised NC ’s responsibility to promulgate a constitution within a year as mandated by the people.

Labels: Highlight, News