E-Kantipur

NEW DELHI, MAR 17 - Leaders of the major Madhesh-based parties, who are currently on a visit to India, have opined that an election for a new Constituent Assembly should be conducted if the current government cannot write the new constitution within the slated time.

The leaders put forth such view in a meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna during which he expressed concern about the progress in drafting the new constitution.

"We opined that a new Constituent Assembly should be formed through a fresh people’s mandate, if the current government fails to promulgate the new constitution in time," Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato told eKantipur.

Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) Chairman Bijaya Gachhadar and Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) Chairman Mahanta Thakur were also present in the meeting.

"The current CA cannot be extended forever, if it fails to release the constitution by the May 28 deadline. If the constitution is not drafted, the Madhes and Madhesi people will not get their rights. Therefore, we will have to opt for a new CA," said Mahato.

Mahato accused the UCPN (Maoist), among other leading parties, of trying to extend the CA’s deadline yet again for “power and perks”. Saying that they (visiting Madhesi leaders) informed the Indian External Affairs Minister about the situation, Mahato warned that the Madhesh would resort to agitation if the constitution is not released by May 28.

In reply, Krishna said that India is in favour of timely constitution in Nepal. "We support your view that the constitution should be released within the slated time and it should be democratic," Mahato quoted Krishna.

During the meeting, the Madhesi leaders put forth their complaints about the Maoists. Claiming that the Maoists are intending to capture the power in the name of pro-people constitution, they said that the alliance of two the leftist parties formed lately has put the country's democracy in peril.

The Indian minister, however, said that there is no alternative to unity among the Nepali parties and advised to move ahead with consensus to end the crisis.

The leaders are scheduled to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, leaders of the ruling and the opposition parties before returning to Nepal on Sunday. It is still not sure whether the Nepali leaders would be meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi as she is currently in London for a program.

The top Madhesi leaders arrived here in India on Wednesday on the invitation of the Indian government.

 

Posted on: 2011-03-17 08:37

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