CA meeting suspended after Madhesi party members demand withdrawal of amendment bill

CA meeting suspended after Madhesi party members demand withdrawal of amendment bill

The meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) was suspended immediately after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced his resignation.

Before the Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula could present the bill to introduce fifth amendment of the constitution, members belonging to Madhesi parties created an uproar demanding that the points of agreement reached between the government and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UMDF) in March this year be included in the amendment bill.

"I want to ask why the points of that agreement including the creation of Madhes autonomous province and other provinces and ensuring population-based proportional recruitment of all sections of society in all organs of state are not included in this bill," said Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, leader of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).

He also warned that the Madhesi members will not allow the passage of the bill without addressing their concerns.

Following his address, scores of members swooped in before the rostrum and chanted slogans forcing the chair of the assembly to suspend it for 45 minutes.

Because of the suspension, the CA could not initiate discussion on the fifth amendment bill - which has provisions for electing president, vice president, prime minister, CA chairman and vice chairman through simple majority. This provision is expected to end the political deadlock and allow the formation of new government through the assembly floor