Former speaker and one of the drafters of the 1990 constitution Daman Nath Dhungana has said that election to a constituent assembly is a must to resolve present problems dogging the country.

Daman Nath Dhungana

Daman Nath Dhungana
(File photo)

Speaking at an interaction program on ‘Inclusive democracy: discourse and structure,’ organized by the Freedom Forum, Dhungana said, “The nation should go for a constituent assembly to bring the rebels into mainstream politics, ending their violence, and to take a decision about the monarchy’s position as well.”

He however said that both the King and the political parties need a sincere and credible guaranteer to ensure preparation as well as the election for a constituent assembly takes place in a free and fair manner.

“It is possible that the King may dissolve the assembly if its result is against him and for this involvement of a third party is a must to ensure an impartial and fair result of the election,” he said.

He also criticised the political parties for not being open and committed to the election to a constituent assembly.

Political analyst prof. Krishna Khanal said that the ongoing movement should be targeted at overall restructural change in the state mechanism to address and integrate excluded groups. He claimed that monarchy was not an essential part of democracy.

“We have given chances to four kings in the past 50 years, after Nepal was freed from the Ranas, but all of them only betrayed us,” he said.

Shambhu Thapa, president of Nepal Bar Association, outlined the need of internal democratic practices within the democratic forces.