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Nepal Parliament disrupted over Constitution drafting issues

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Press Trust of India Kathmandu
Nepal's Parliament was today adjourned after some parties disrupted the proceedings and shouted anti-government slogans, expressing their anger over the procedure of preparing the draft constitution.

Soon after Nepali Congress general secretary Krishna Prasad Sitauula presented the constitution's first draft to the 601-member Constituent Assembly (CA), members of some Madhesi parties tore the copy of the draft, said Nepali Congress Lawmaker Navindra Raj Joshi.

They protesting members also shouted anti-government slogans.

The Madhesi parties, representing the interests of people from the plain areas, have been opposing the 16-point pact reached by Nepal's four major warring political parties.

After the Madhesi parties disrupted the session Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subhas Nembang adjourned the meeting till Thursday.
 

The Madhesi parties have been demanding that the demarcation and naming of federal units should be done before preparing the draft.

Lawmakers of Federal Democratic Forum, Terai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party walked out of the CA, chanting slogans against the move.

Forum chairman Upendra Yadav said the new draft constitution being brought in the name of fast-tracking the drafting procedure won't be acceptable.

He warned of resorting to protests if the constitution is promulgated without ethnic identity-based federalism.

Four major parties - Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum Democratic -- representing more than 90 per cent seats of the CA had reached a landmark agreement on June 8 in the wake of the devastating April 25 earthquake.

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First Published: Jun 30 2015 | 10:42 PM IST

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