Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met senior leaders of ruling and opposition parties here and made a strong pitch for the early drafting of Nepal's Constitution, saying if the country fails to do so it may get into "difficulties".
Modi stressed on the need for timely drafting of the constitution by forging consensus among political parties.
The prime minister met senior leader of Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba, the party's general secretary Krishna Sitaula, Maoist chairman Prachanda, senior leader of the party Baburam Bhattarai, CPN-UML chairman K P Sharma Oli, senior leader Jhalanath Khanal, Deputy Prime Minister and senior UML leader Bamdev Gautam and discussed the latest political situation in the country.
"Modi has advised to draft a constitution through political consensus and our party was already making attempts towards that direction," Nepali Congress general secretary Krishna Sitauls said after the meeting.
Modi has expressed concern that the constitution should be framed timely and through forging consensus among political parties, he told journalists.
"I request all political stakeholders to draft the Constitution by early next year as committed through consensus which will reflect aspirations of all communities, including Madhesis, Pahadis and Maoists...Failing to do so can cause difficulties to Nepal and your difficulty despite our expertise to help you in this field is a matter of sadness," Modi said after inaugurating the trauma centre built by India at Kathmandu's Bir Hospital.
Modi advocated "Rishiman" (mindset of a sage) while drafting the Constitution and said an approach of "Yudh to Bodh" (from conflict to peace) should be followed.
However, he reiterated that India does not want to interfere in the internal matters of Nepal but assured all help.
Due to serious political differences, Nepal's political parties have failed to write a new Constitution but after much deliberation have now agreed to prepare the first draft of the statuette by January 22, 2015.
The previous Constituent Assembly was dissolved as it could not settle the disputes on key issues.
"Modi wanted to know about the content of the constitution and we have told him that we are committed to framing a democratic constitution based on parliamentary system," NC Deputy General Secretary Purna Khadka said.
