Friday, April 17, 2009

Army integration pre-requisite for constitution making: PM Prachanda


Prime Minister Prachanda on Thursday said that the constitution drafting process will be smooth only after the major task of integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants is completed.

"For this purpose the government is pushing ahead the army integration process with priority," he said.

Addressing a program titled "Concerns of Women and Children in the Upcoming Constitution of Nepal" organized by Mahila Adharshila in the capital city, PM Prachanda said, "to draft a constitution with which everybody can feel a sense of belongingness is the main challenge that lies ahead for the government."

He also vowed that he won't allow the new constitution to be like the one framed in 2047 B.S, and claimed that since the Constitution Assembly (CA) teams have already returned after learning the aspirations of the people and their suggestions for the new constitution from every nooks and corners of Nepal "everybody will now feel a sense of belongingness with the new constitution."

Stressing on the need to ensure the rights of women and children for drafting a "people's constitution", PM Prachanda , who is also the chairman of Unified CPN (Maoist), clarified that at the present juncture it is very important to ensure as well as institutionalise the rights of women and children in the new constitution.

"Although the country has witnessed historical transformation, few elements in the country are trying to push the country back to its former self," he further said, "so the people need to remain alert during these times."

He also used the opportunity to hit back at the previous governments, saying that only because of the failed leadership of the "old state" the Nepalese people are suffering with abject poverty in the country.

Similarly, citing the example of Norway and Finland, PM Prachanda said that Nepal too can become prosperous like them by utilising the immense potentials of its water resources.

Speaking at the same programme, chairperson of National Women's Commission (NWC) Naina Kala Rai said that the new constitution should not discriminate against women and children on any basis and also called for scrapping of all biased laws prevalent in Nepal

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