Deadline missed

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) of the Constituent Assembly (CA) failed to prepare the new constitution's bill within the deadline that ended on Monday.

The CDC had been given five days to prepare the bill and present it in the CA. But even on the fifth day, the top leaders of the four major political parties failed to find solutions to disputes over the six-province federalism model and the CDC missed its deadline.

NC President Sushil Koirala, UML Chair KP Oli, UCPN (M) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and MJF (D) Chair Bijaya Gachhadar held a closed-door meeting almost throughout the day, but failed to reach a new agreement.

The top leaders have agreed to redraw boundaries of federal provinces, but are clueless as to how to do it. The UCPN (M) has proposed to create one more province, but the NC and the UML do not want more provinces.

As protests over the six-province federalism model intensify, the four parties have agreed to resume the constitution writing process only after holding talks with the disgruntled parties and communities. This means that the recently-revised schedule of the CA to pass the new constitution on 27 August is in a mess. However, NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel said: "We will not take more than a couple of days to take the disgruntled parties on board."

Madhes-based parties, Janajatis and Tharus have rejected the six-province federalism model, saying it will not reflect their identity. They have been carrying out protest programs against the six-province model.

Madhes-based parties had joined the CPN-Maoist to enforce a two-day nationwide general strike. Although the strike was recalled Monday afternoon, four Madhesi parties have announced an indefinite general strike in the Tarai from Tuesday.

In the western plain districts, the Tharuhat Struggle Committee has already been on the warpath. In the east, Janajatis are up in arms demanding an ethnic identity based province.

Violent protests continue in Karnali region, where the locals are agitated demanding an autonomous Karnali province. In Jumla, the locals clashed with police on Monday as well.