9 opposition parties in Nepal to obstruct Constitution amendment bill

An alliance of nine-opposition parties in Nepal on Wednesday decided to obstruct the Constitution amendment bill that seeks to address the demands of agitating Madhesi parties in the Parliament.

A meeting of the opposition parties, led by the CPN-UML, held in Kathmandu decided to obstruct the House proceedings if the government tries to push the amendment bill through, Rastriya Janamukti Party - Loktantrik- lawmaker Shiva Lal Thapa said.

The opposition, however, said they will allow the proceedings to run if other issues such as election bill and impeachment motion were discussed in the Parliament.

The meeting also decided to hold further talks with ruling parties and United Democratic Madhesi Front on the disputed issues including the amendment bill.

The government has tabled the Constitution amendment bill in the Parliament in order to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties, that mainly include re-demarcation of provincial boundary and citizenship issues.

The Madhesi parties have relaunched agitation to oppose the local body election announced by the Election Commission on Monday.

Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a six-month-long agitation from September 2015 to February last year in which more than 50 people were killed.

The agitation had also crippled the landlocked country’s economy as supplies from India were blocked.