'Amend law before Nepal PM visit to India'

Raxaul:Nepal Sadbhavana Party chairman Rajendra Mahato on Monday demanded tabling of a constitution amendment Bill in Parliament before the visit of PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal to India. He hoped the Opposition lawmakers would also support the Bill after the ruling parties and the United Democratic Madhes Front (UDMF) agreed on the issue. Nepal Sadbhavana Party is a constituent of UDMF.
Mahato said he met Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday and told him that the government should move a constitution amendment bill to accommodate the UDMF's political demands."Deuba assured me he was also in favour of tabling the amendment Bill in Parliament before the PM leaves for India. If not, the government could do so after the PM returns," said Mahato. He said the government and the UDMF needed to reach an understanding on issues of revision of boundaries of provinces, citizenship, representation in the Upper House and the question of language.
He said Parliament on Sunday endorsed three important Bills related to restructuring of judiciary as per the new constitution, thereby clearing decks for new high courts in seven provinces. The constitution promulgated on September 20 last year provides for a high court in each of the seven provinces as restructured in the federal model of nation within one year of the promulgation of constitution. The government, Mahato said, has also decided to hold local election, but the boundaries of proposed provinces should be determined first.