Leaders of the seven-party alliance have said the parties and the government is doing serious homework to bring the interim constitution by mid-November.
They have stressed the need to promulgate the interim constitution immediately in order to end the constitutional vacuum in the country before it gets challenged in the court.
Speaking at a discussion programme in the capital on “interim constitution and constituent assembly” organised by Freedom Forum Nepal on Wednesday, central committee member of the Nepali Congress Arjun Narsingh KC said even as the country needs new constitution right away, it would be meaningless to introduce it unless there it is guaranteed that elections take place in a situation free from the fear of arms or the monarchy.
He reiterated the stance of party president Giriaja Prasad Koirala that referendum on King’s future would encourage the monarchy to become active and give him a chance to play.
KC objected to idea of forming a ‘republican front’ but stressed the need for inclusive and proportional representation of all sections of the society. He said interim constitution would be promulgated within Kartik (mid-November).
Minendra Rijal of Nepali Congress (Democratic) said referendum is the best way to decide the fate of monarchy, which is the right of sovereign people rather the decision of a few elected representatives.
He further said that interim constitution should pave way for a republic based on the country’s geography.
Standing committee member of the UML Bharat Mohan Adhikari held Prime Minister Koirala responsible for delay in the peace talks as well as in the promulgation of the interim constitution. He hinted that UML would not deviate from its stand to determine the future of monarchy through referendum.
Speaking at the same programme, former law minister and leftist thinker Nilamber Acharya said the delay in holding constituent assembly elections would mean to avoid this process and added that the mandate of the April movement was for ending the armed conflict and all kinds of feudal remains.
Achrya also warned the parties that monarchy would raise its head and ultimately capture the state power if it is kept in the name of ceremonial monarchy or powerless monarchy — as proposed by a political quarter.
Former secretary of the Judicial Commission Kashi Raj Dahal said if the parties continued to rule the country in line with the declaration of the reinstated parliament only, it could be challenged at the court. He pointed out the possibility of dismissal of the declaration through the court order. “Therefore there is need to bring in interim constitution immediately,” Dahal said.
Other speakers of the programme – Rajendra Mahato of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), Sunil Prajapati of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and C. P. Mainali of Left Front – stressed the need of promulgating interim constitution, initiate distribution of citizenship certificates to Nepali people who have not received it, to ensure their voting rights for constituent assembly elections, integration of Maoist army and Nepali Army and fair representation of the all sections of the people in the interim governing process.