E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, NOV 20 -

As the parties decided to form a State Restructuring Commission on Friday by rolling back their earlier move to form an experts’ panel, it is interesting to note the position taken by the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha on the issue.

An alliance of Tarai-based parties, on whose behalf Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Gachchhadar signed the agreement on Friday, the Morcha, in its four-point agreement with the UCPN (Maoist) before the formation of the current coalition, mentions forming an experts’ panel, instead of the commission, for state restructuring. It is worth remembering that the Morcha did not extend its support to the Nepali Congress (NC) during the prime ministerial election stating that the latter was not amicable to the idea of forming an experts’ panel.

However, Morcha leaders have been defending their latest move on state restructuring as a necessity to provide continued momentum to the peace and constitution writing process. “We believe our move will help peace and constitution-writing,” says Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Nandan Kumar Dutt, who is a leader of the MJF-Ganatantrik. Dutt adds that the Morcha’s move was a result of the compulsion emanating from coalition politics. “As members of the coalition, we—Maoists and Madhesi Morcha—have to move forward together,” says Dutt. He maintains that the alliance has not backed out from its earlier commitment as stated in the four-point agreement. “Morcha could secure its objective of state restructuring from this process as well,” he stated.

Echoing him, MJF-L leader Ramjanam Chaudary said that the Morcha’s move on state restructuring was a “compromise for peace and constitution writing process”. He added that the Terms of Reference as agreed by parties include taking into account the report of the State Restructuring and Devolution of State Powers Committee of the Constituent Assembly, including the opinions expressed in the report. Chaudary believes that the new set-up would address these and go ahead with state restructuring.

UCPN (Maoist) leader Haribol Gajurel also believes the Morcha’s move was the need of the hour as there was strong opposition to the formation of a panel from the Janajati Caucus in parliament. He revealed that problems were noticed also in the NC and the CPN-UML on the experts’ panel.

Meanwhile, speaking at a programme in the Capital on Saturday, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party leader Jitendra Sonal expressed said that Friday’s agreement had raised concerns over securing the one-Madhes state. He revealed that the agreement had been possible after PM Baburam Bhattarai assured that the agreement reached in the State Restructuring Committee would not be tampered with.

Posted on: 2011-11-20 08:43

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