LP2

Heated Debates on Constitutional Amendments in Nepal's Legislature Parliament Committee II

Samragyi Tamrakar, Chief Reporter of LP-II,TES News

Kathmandu, August 13, 2024

In an effort to address Nepal’s ongoing political instability and its effects on socio-economic development, the Legislature Parliament Committee II convened today. The final session, chaired by Shuvangi K.C., along with Vice Chair Smarika Bhatta and Moderator Pragyani Narayan, focused on the critical issue of constitutional amendments for political stability and socio-economic development. This sparked heated discussions among the delegates. The General Speaker List (GSL) opened at 11 AM, with the delegate of Shekhar Koirala (Saksham Thapaliya) taking the floor.

The session began at 11 AM, with the delegate of Shekhar Koirala (Saksham Thapaliya) setting the motion for the day. The delegate of Shekhar Koirala (Saksham Thapaliya) was the first speaker, addressing the need for amendments to secure political stability and promote social equality. He emphasized his party's contributions to economic development, which he claimed had resulted in a more stable Nepal. However, when questioned by the delegate of Madhav Kumar Nepal (Saksham Thapaliya) on whether constitutional amendments should take priority over proper implementation, the delegate of Shekhar Koirala (Saksham Thapaliya) struggled to respond. He deflected by stating that the question was unclear but assured that his party would prioritize both amendments and implementation in the future.

The delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) took the floor next, detailing how the CPN-UML had worked to protect the rights of all citizens without discrimination. He highlighted his party's commitment to stabilizing the nation. However, the delegate of Madhav Kumar Nepal (Saksham Thapaliya) questioned the delegate of KP Oli's (Dibas Khadka) credibility, pointing out his controversial attempt to dissolve the House of Representatives for personal gain. The delegate of Gokul Prasad Baskota (Rajashree Adhikari Rachana) also questioned the delegate of KP Oli’s (Dibas Khadka) stance, pointing out his controversial five-year rule related to corruption.

The delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) took the opportunity to shed light on the challenges facing the Madhesh province. He spoke about his party’s efforts to push for constitutional amendments to ensure the political stability of the region and empower marginalized communities. Despite his claims, the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) questioned why the Madhesh province’s demands had not yet been fulfilled. In response, the delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) assured that their rights would be addressed in due time but offered little in the way of specifics. The delegate of Ramesh Lekhak (Kushal Paudel) also pressed the delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) for details on his party's future plans but was met with vague assurances.

The delegate of Madhav Kumar Nepal (Saksham Thapaliya) then spoke, emphasizing the importance of constitutional amendments in securing political stability and sustainable economic growth. He discussed his party's efforts to upgrade laws, but his remarks were brief and lacking in substance. The delegate of Pradeep Paudel criticized the delegate of Madhav Kumar Nepal’s (Saksham Thapaliya) party, claiming that living standards and development had slowed under their leadership. The delegate of Pradeep Paudel argued that transparency and citizen participation were key to achieving political stability.

The session continued with the delegate of Rabi Lamichhane (Harshid Bhetwal), who highlighted his efforts to push for change and support local governments. He spoke of his dedication to securing essential rights and fostering social harmony through cultural inclusivity. However, when the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) questioned his credibility due to his multiple citizenships, the delegate of Rabi Lamichhane (Harshid Bhetwal) deflected the question, choosing instead to focus on transparency without addressing the core of the inquiry.

The final speaker of the session, the delegate of Chandra Battrai (Aarush Bajracharya), provided a summary of the day’s debates, highlighting the ongoing challenges of securing political stability in Nepal. Despite the passionate discussions, the committee was unable to finalize a resolution, leaving the matter to be revisited in future sessions.

The moderated caucus began soon after, with the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) successfully passing a motion on "Constant Protests for the Rights of Marginalized Communities Leading to Political Instability." The delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) accused the delegate of CK Raut (Aashiya Shrestha) and the delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) of not doing enough to develop Madhesh Province, blaming them for the unrest. The delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) responded by saying that the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) was just trying to shift the blame away from himself.

The delegate of Arzu Rana (Saanvi K.C.) also criticized the delegate of CK Raut (Aashiya Shrestha) for neglecting Madhesh’s development. The delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) went further, accusing the opposition of not paying attention to the constitutional protections for Madhesi people. The delegate of Madhav Kumar Nepal (Saksham Thapaliya) added to the debate, accusing Congress of making weak amendments in 2015. The delegate of Juli Kumari Mahato (Unnat Aryal) demanded that the delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) and the delegate of CK Raut (Aashiya Shrestha) explain how they were supporting marginalized communities.

The delegate of Swarnim Wagle challenged the delegate of KP Oli’s (Dibas Khadka) claims, saying that the promised development in Madhesh had not happened. The delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) defended himself by listing his party's initiatives, but the delegate of Madhav Kumar Nepal (Saksham Thapaliya) asked for more details. The delegate of Ramesh Lekhak (Kushal Paudel) spoke about his own party's achievements and questioned the ongoing power struggle between the delegate of Madhav Kumar Nepal (Saksham Thapaliya) and the delegate of Prachanda (Kunjal Karki). The debate became more heated as more accusations were made. The delegate of Juli Kumari Mahato (Unnat Aryal) targeted the delegate of Janardan Sharma (Barsha Anex Dit Chenaud) for not supporting funds for minority groups, and the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) accused the delegate of Rabi Lamichhane (Harshid Bhetwal) of blocking efforts to clear slums. The delegate of Ramesh Lekhak (Kushal Paudel) criticized JSP for failing to respond to the needs of the Madhesi people.

As the session grew more intense, a sudden crisis erupted, focusing on the proposed constitutional amendments, which some delegates saw as a way for the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) to grab more power. The delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) defended the amendments, saying they were needed for Nepal's long-term stability, especially since past governments had not lasted more than two years. The delegate of Sher Bahadur Deuba (Kinjal Timlasina) supported this idea, saying that extending the government's term would provide the stability Nepal needed.

However, the delegate of Urmila Majhi (Sijan Neupane) disagreed, accusing the delegate of Sher Bahadur Deuba (Kinjal Timlasina) of trying to extend his time in office for personal gain rather than for the benefit of the people. She pointed out that the delegate of Sher Bahadur Deuba (Kinjal Timlasina) had only been in power for 18 months but was already looking to stay longer. The delegate of Prachanda (Kunjal Karki) further criticized the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka), suggesting that he was jealous of his previous time as Prime Minister and was now trying to gather more power.

The delegate of Ramesh Lekhak (Kushal Paudel), speaking for the Congress Party, argued that the amendments were meant to stabilize the country and that Congress didn’t have any problems with them. But the delegate of Urmila Majhi (Sijan Neupane) countered, saying that the delegate of KP Oli’s (Dibas Khadka) past plans as Prime Minister had been controversial, especially regarding his ideas about political stability and development.

The debate heated up even more when it was revealed that the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) and the delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) had been planning to use the amendments to stay in power for a longer period. This revelation shocked the delegates, causing an uproar. The committee was now deeply divided, with the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) gaining support from RPP and RSP, while the delegate of Sher Bahadur Deuba (Kinjal Timlasina) and the delegate of Prachanda (Kunjal Karki) led the opposition against him.

In the final moments of the session, when the committee had its last crisis update, it was revealed that the delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) and the delegate of KP Oli (Dibas Khadka) had been working together to extend their hold on power. The other delegates accused them of pretending to be rivals. The delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane) defended his actions, saying that the previous amendments had not been good enough, and so changes were needed.However, the session ended without any resolution, leaving the future of the proposed amendments uncertain. 

The delegate of Upendra Yadav (Sankalpa Neupane)  proposed a resolution to move forward rather than argue, and the committee transitioned into an unmoderated caucus.