Instead of a new constitution, Nepal braces for agitations

Nepal’s pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) has threatened to launch another peoples’ movement if the country wasn’t named a Hindu state in the new constitution.

Updated on: Jan 3, 2015, 23:27:47 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal’s pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) has threatened to launch another peoples’ movement if the country wasn’t named a Hindu state in the new constitution.

The party — the fourth largest in constituent assembly — made the announcement in the heart of Kathmandu after conclusion of a 10-day chariot ‘yatra’ across 30 districts to garner public support for the demand.

“Millions took part in our chariot campaign and they will take to the streets if the country continues to remain a secular state,” said RPP-N chairman Kamal Thapa while addressing a rally.

Thapa’s party, which also wants reinstatement of constitutional monarchy, may have announced agitation as a last attempt to stay relevant in changing Nepal. But RPP-N isn’t alone.

With just 19 days remaining before the self-imposed deadline of promulgating the new constitution on January 22 expires, several other parties have also threatened to launch agitations.

Thirty parties, led by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) too have announced protests and strikes to prevent the ruling parties from adopting the constitution with two-third majority vote. The protest programme includes mass meetings, region-wise strikes and will end with a nationwide strike on January 19.

Nepal’s present logjam is due to differences among ruling and opposition parties on four unresolved issues — federalism, kind of government, the types of election and the structure of the judiciary.

Opposition parties want these issues to be addressed through consensus while the ruling coalition of the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) want to promulgate the statute through vote if there is no unanimity.

With neither group willing to make compromises at this stage, Nepal seems set to miss another constitution deadline.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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