Madhesi lawmaker demands PM Oli to deliver on Constitution amendment commitment

Updated:7 years, 1 month ago

Kathmandu (Nepal), Sept 12 (ANI): Madhesi lawmaker Pramila Kumari, a member of Nepal’s Upper House and the representative from the Federal Socialist Forum, demanded for fulfillment of commitments made by Prime Minister KP Oli to amend the constitution. Oli, in his quest for power, had promised to amend the constitution for the upliftment of communities such as Madhesis, Muslims, Dalits, women and the indigenous people, who lag behind in the Human Development Index. Kumari, while addressing the meeting of Upper House, also questioned Oli’s intentions regarding the promises he had made and lamented his government’s treatment of Madhesis as “non-citizens”. Ever since Nepal promulgated its first ever federal parliament in September 2015, the Madhesi issue has been at the forefront of Nepal politics. Widespread protests in 2015 saw the Constitution being burnt by Madhesh-based parties and the bloodshed at that time led to deaths of over 100 protestors when KP Oli was in power. Last year, the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had tabled the Constitution for amendment but his proposal was rejected as it failed to garner the required two-third majority.