Nepalese SC summons Prachanda

Kathmandu, December 8 

Nepalese Supreme Court today summoned Prime Minister Prachanda and Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar and asked them to furnish written clarifications within a week informing the rationale behind the registration of Constitution amendment Bill to adress Madhesis' deamands.

A single Bench ordered the two leaders to furnish the clarifications within a week and set December 20 as the date for next hearing on the case filed against the government move.

The ruling Nepali Congress-Maoist coalition government on November 29 had registered the Bill in order to address demands put forth by the agitating Madhesi parties.

Following the registration, the Ex-lawmakers Forum challenged the Constitution Amendment Bill in the court, seeking a stay on the amendment process.

The Bill is aimed at carving out a new province to meet the demands of agitating Madhesis and other ethnic groups whose protests last year left more than 50 people dead.

The Bill proposes to address three other key issues — citizenship, representation in the Upper House and recognition of languages spoken in various parts of the country.

Madhesis’ agitation from September last year to February this year crippled the landlocked country's economy as supplies from India were blocked. — PTI