JUL 16 - At a time when the preliminary draft of the new constitution is being circulated for public feedback, India has said that the statute should come through maximum consensus.
In a meeting with UCPN(Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the Hyderabad House on Wednesday, Eternal Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj urged to ‘find more consensus’ for the new statute. Dahal is in New Delhi on the invitation of the government of India.
India has been optimistic over Nepal since the signing of the 12-point agreement in 2005. Today I told them to be positive on our recent 16-point deal that paved way for drafting the constitution,” Dahal told the Post.
It is impossible to have absolute consensus on a constitution anywhere in the world, Dahal told Swaraj, reminding her that it took 12 years for the south Indians to agree on the Indian statute. “We are trying to accommodate as many disgruntled forces as possible,” Dahal said.
Dahal assured Swaraj that once public feedback is collected, concerns raised by the Madhes-based parties and other stakeholders will be accommodated. He added that the parties have agreed to settle down the delineation of the states before promulgating the new statute.
Stating that there was widespread rumours that India was not happy with the 16-point deal, he urged India to support the pact.
“I will have a better understanding on India’s position once I meet the President and prime minister. Initial indications are positive,” he added.
Rebuffing allegations made against him for visiting India at a crucial time of drafting the constitution, he said that it was compulsory to visit the neighbouring nation to win their confidence.
“I am here to create a positive environment for the constitution. We have other lawmakers to seek public suggestions on the preliminary draft,” the former prime minister said.
During the meeting with Swaraj, Dahal also raised the issue of Lipu-Lekh, a small portion of Nepali land situated in Nepal-India border now agreed between India and China to develop as a trade, business and tourism route.
In response, Sushma pledged that officials from both sides will sit together to study old pacts on Lipu-Lekh before reaching an understanding.
Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae and Joint Secretary ( North) Abhay Thakur were present at the meeting. Dahal was accompanied by his personal aide Shiva Khakurel.
The Maoist chairman is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday afternoon.
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