Kathmandu – The main opposition UCPN (Maoist) has decided to simultaneously protest within and outside the Constituent Assembly (CA) if the ruling NC and the UML initiates the process of passing the new constitution by using their two-thirds strength.
An extended Central Committee (CC) meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) held in its headquarters at Paris Danda of Kathmandu on Friday took a decision to this effect.
"We'll encircle the rostrum, shout slogans and obstruct the house if the NC and the UML try to pass the new constitution without our consensus," said Lokendra Bishta, a standing committee member of the UCPN (Maoist). "At the same time, we'll also carry out protests on the streets."
Bishta, however, told Nepali Times that their protests will be 'peaceful' on both fronts. "We won't try to resort to violence even on the streets," he said.
The UCPN (Maoist), which is now leading a 30-party alliance of opposition parties including the Madhesi front, says the CA cannot pass the new constitution on the basis of two-thirds majority as it is not just an ordinary parliament.
Agni Prasad Sapkota, another standing committee member of the UCPN (Maoist), was quoted by the National News Agency as saying, "A constitution is a document of historical importance; revolutionary force like us should not be ignored while passing such an important document."
The UCPN (Maoist)'s decision comes at a time when the ruling NC and the UML are gearing up to amend the CA regulations – a requirement for passing the new constitution on the two-third majority basis.
After they failed to reach a consensus on the contentious issues of the new constitution, the ruling NC and UML parties are pushing to use their two-thirds majority while the opposition UCPN (Maoist) and the Madhesi front are taking it to the streets.
Less than a week before the January 22 deadline for passing the new constitution, the ruling and the opposition parties are divided over the basis of federalism, state restructuring, form of governance, judiciary and electoral model.