E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, FEB 01 -

Amid protests from some lawmakers and dissent from a section of its members, the State Restructuring Commission on Tuesday submitted two separate reports to the government. The Commission envisioned as a technical panel was formed to suggest an appropriate federation model but the members, who were nominated by different parties, failed to rise above partisan politics.

The major report includes the majority member’s suggestions with a corresponding note of dissent from the minority group, while the second report only includes the minority faction’s suggestions. Though both sides had agreed to submit one report late Monday night, minority members weren’t convinced that Chairman Madan Pariyar would incorporate all their dissenting views in the final report.

The main report has advised the government to federate the country into 11 provinces with priority rights to dominant ethnic groups at the local level. The 11 provinces include Karnali-Khaptad, Madhes-Abadh-Tharuwan, Magrat, Tamuwan, Narayani, Newa, Tamsaling, Kirat, Limbuwan, Madhes-Mithila-Bhojpura and one non-territorial Dalit state.

 The report prepared by the dissenting members has suggested the government to federate the country into six provinces—two in the plains based on identity, history and culture, and four on the basis of economic viability. As for the residual power, they have advocated for the power to be vested with the centre, while the majority group wants the issue to be solved by either the centre or state depending on where the problem arises. 

 “We have suggested adopting three tiers-central, province and local government with equal rights but they opposed it and advocated for only two tiers—central and provincial states,” said minority member Sarbaraj Khadka, who was nominated from the CPN-UML

Like the parties, which nominated them, SRC members have huge differences on the names, number of states, priority rights and right to self-determination and structures of the government in a federal set-up.

  At around 2:30 pm, Pariyar submitted the majority report to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai incorporating the note of dissent from dissenting members, while member Ramesh Dhungel submitted another report on behalf of his group.

The dissenting note was added to the main report at the last minute on Monday night. 

Bhogendra Jha, another member nominated from the UML, sided with the majority Maoist-Madhesi members. Pariyar’s proposal to go for a 11-province model, including a non-territorial Dalit state was supported by Malla K Sundar and Stella Tamang from the UCPN (Maoist) and Surendra Mahato and Krishna Hachhethu from the Madhesi Morhca.

“At first, we were sceptical whether the chairman would incorporate our note of dissent in the main report, but he did. We have submitted our report only as a reference document,” Dhungel told reporters in Singha Durbar after submitting reports. Minority members had emailed their report to the chairman late Monday night at the latter’s request. The two groups had been working on their reports in separate places throughout Monday. 

 After a long-drawn-out debate, the major parties had agreed to form the SRC on November 23. They had initially formed an-eight member commission and Pariyar was later appointed its coordinator taking the number to nine. The Commission was given two-month time but its tenure was extended by a week on January 22. As per the TOR, the Commission had to recommend restructuring the state mainly on the bases of “identity and capability” and taking into account the opinions and aspirations of the State Restructuring and Devolution of State Power Committee of the CA. According to a press statement issued by Pariyar, identity and capability have been taken into consideration.

Hurdle in report submission

Some members of the Sherpa community were outside the Prime Minister’s Office to prevent SRC members from entering. “We have been informed the Commission has excluded Sherpa and Jadan states against the recommendation of the parliamentary report,” Lawmaker Pasang Sherpa said.

SRC members Krishna Hachhethu and Stella Tamang, who arrived at around 2 pm were not allowed to enter the PMO. “We are ready to face bullets for Sherpa province,” said Gangu Sherpa, in-charge of the Maoist-affiliated Sherpa Autonomous Federal State in Solukhumbu. Lawmakers Lucky Sherpa, Jeep Chhiring Lama also picketed the PMO. As the police took the protesters into custody, two members managed to enter the PMO from the main door, while the remaining members quickly entered from the northern door.

Meanwhile, political have reacted differently to the report submitted by the SRC. While UCPN (Maoist) and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha have said the Commission should be thanked for presenting its report on time, the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress are dissatisfied with the report.

Maoist leader Agni Sapkota said the SRC should be thanked for submitting its report on time. However, when asked to comment on the report and its aftermath, Sapkota said something could be commented on only after studying the report. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik General Secretary Jitendra Dev said those parties, which were against the formation of the Commission, should thank it for submitting the report on time.

NC leader Narahari Acharya however expressed displeasure that the issues could not be resolved and that the SRC could not give a tangible solution. However, Acharya said some progress has taken place. Citing the reduction in the number of states, he added that some have advocated for 11, while others have called for six. Even in Madhes, he said that two states have been proposed which is a move away from the Madhesi parties’ earlier stance for a single state.

Another NC leader Ramesh Lekhak added the issue of state restructuring should be dealt at the political level. UML leader Bhim Rawal criticised the Commission for failing to come up with a consensual document. He added the Commission was expected to work as a team of experts, which could not happen. He rued that the panel could not fulfill its objectives—to help ease the prevailing deadlock. 

Members exchange brickbats

KATHMANDU: It has been revealed the State Restructuring Commission members engaged in a heated debate, which led to personal accusation, while preparing the report. The members reportedly exchanged brickbats, washing their dirty linen in public. Even Chairman Madan Pariyar was not spared. Some members repeatedly asked him to resign from his post and leave the commission. Bickering  took place also between two women members of the panel.

It has also surfaced that GIS expert Navraj Subedi, who was invited to the SRC by Krishna Hacchethu, was later asked to leave the majority camp as the former refused to approve the 11-state model. Subedi later joined the minority group that has advocated for a six-state model. Hacchethu, however, denied Subedi’s ‘expulsion’.

Posted on: 2012-02-01 08:13

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