Nepal Maoists won't budge on ethnicity-based federalism

The ongoing constitutional crisis in Nepal is likely to prolong for some more time as ruling Maoists have ruled out compromise on single ethnicity-based federal states.

Updated on: Jun 16, 2012, 24:02:18 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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The ongoing constitutional crisis in Nepal is likely to prolong for some more time as ruling Maoists have ruled out compromise on single ethnicity-based federal states.

Addressing a mass rally in Kathmandu on Friday, Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leaders refused to demands by opposition parties to create new states based on multiple-ethnicity.

Differences between Maoist-Madhesi coalition and opposition parties Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) on ways to restructure Nepal was the prime cause for failure to promulgate a new constitution last month.

“The need of the hour is agreement among parties to draft a constitution guaranteeing single ethnicity-based federalism,” Maoist vice-chairman and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai told the rally.

“We need to form a national unity government and contest the next elections. And if consensus can be reached only with my resignation, I am ready for that.”

Nepal is witnessing political and constitutional crisis after the Constituent Assembly was dissolved on May 27 for failure to promulgate the constitution and fresh elections announced.

Terming the government’s move as unconstitutional, 27 political parties including NC and CPN (UML) have launched a campaign to oust the government and refused to take part in elections.

Besides countering the opposition, the Maoist rally was also a show of strength against the party’s hardliner faction that has threatened a split accusing Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal of digressing from objectives.

The hardliners led by Vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya were planning to announce formation of a separate party on Friday.

“We are ready to discuss all their demands and I appeal to Baidya and other comrades to work towards strengthening the party,” Dahal stated in his address.

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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