Nepal to amend Constitution to address Madhesi demands

Nepal government is working towards amending the new Constitution to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties and ethnic minority groups within a couple of weeks, a senior minister said on Friday.

Minister for Urban Development Arjun Narsingh K C said that the government is speeding up the process to address the concerns of the disgruntled parties.

“A motion to amend the constitution would be registered in the parliament that would address the demands of the disgruntled groups within a couple of weeks after the Vijaya Dashami festival ends,” he said. Last year, Madhesis, largely of Indian-origin, held protests for five months in southern Nepal districts to oppose the new Constitution, claiming the federal structure incorporated in the new charter did not satisfy their demands.

“The promulgation of the Constitution through the Constituent Assembly was a historic achievement for the people of Nepal as they had fulfilled their long cherished dream to have a Constitution that guarantees democratic rights and freedom,” Narsingh said. “However, it is also equally important to make the Constitution acceptable to all sections of the society through its amendment,” the minister said.

There is a need to forge unity among the three major parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Centre and CPN-UML to amend the Constitution, he said.