More delay in Nepal constitution

With no chance of drafting a new constitution within the May 28 deadline, the Jhalanath Khanal government in Nepal decided on Thursday to extend the time limit by another year. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: May 13, 2011, 01:45:32 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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With no chance of drafting a new constitution within the May 28 deadline, the Jhalanath Khanal government in Nepal decided on Thursday to extend the time limit by another year.

Khanal, who cut short a trip to Turkey, took the decision at a meeting of coalition partners and smaller parties soon after his return on Thursday.

Nepali Congress and three Madhes-based parties — Madhesi Peoples’ Rights Forum (Democratic), Sadbhawana Party and Terai Madhes Democratic Party remained absent.

A cabinet meeting later decided to table a motion in the Constituent Assembly to extend the deadline by amending the interim constitution with a two-third majority vote.

The tenure of the CA, which is entrusted with drafting the new constitution, was extended by a year on May 28 last year. Nepal’s lawmakers have failed to give the country its new constitution within the deadline.

Resentment is brewing among the public against lawmakers for their failure to draft a new constitution and conclude the peace process despite expiry of the deadline twice.

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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