India has expressed concern over current security situation in Nepal which is witnessing a streak of violence after its Constituent Assembly voted against a proposal to make it a Hindu nation and favoured keeping it a secular country instead. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in a statement said more flexibility was needed from the political sides and that a dialogue was best way to deal with the crisis.
“India is concerned over the ongoing protests and strife in several parts of Nepal. Horrific violence has once again shaken Nepal’s soul. Whether the victims are Nepali citizens or Government officials, the blood spilt in all the incidents was Nepalese. When Nepal is yet to come out of the tragedy of the earthquake, these developments would hurt any humanitarian country in the world,” Sushma said.
“We urge continuing flexibility on the part of all the political forces so that any outstanding issues are addressed through dialogue and widest possible agreement, in an atmosphere free from violence.
A Constitution, which is fully owned by and accommodates the aspirations of all regions and sections of the Nepalese society, will lay a durable foundation for a peaceful and prosperous Nepal and will become the focal point for Nepal’s bright future,” she added.
Commending Nepal’s progress in its Constitution-drafting process Sushma said several contentious issues have been resolved during the process and a durable and resilient Constitution is necessary to build a modern Nepal.
“For the last few months, the political leadership of Nepal has been intensively engaged in the critically important task of Constitution drafting, through mutual consultations and dialogue. Encouraging voices were heard from Nepalese leaders from afar that the Constitution will carry along all regions and sections, and will become the focal point of a progressive, modern and united Nepal. Coming from all the political leaders, these voices make all of us in India very happy,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, a PTI report from Kathmandu quoted a senior Nepal Minister saying that the country will unveil a new Constitution on September 20 which will be fully democratic and secular, despite ongoing protests by minority groups over the proposed federal structure.
The Constituent Assembly (CA) has already began clause- by-clause voting on the proposed constitution, under preparation since 2008, and as of now 176 articles have already been endorsed by the 601-member strong body.
“The CA unanimously approved the proposal on fixing the date for the promulgation of the Revised Bill of the Constitution of Nepal, on September 20,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey said.
“A fully democratic Constitution will be promulgated by the Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav at a special function here attended by all the heads of diplomatic missions,” he said.
The new Constitution of the Federal, Democratic, Republic Nepal would institutionalise the achievements of the Peoples Movement of 2006, Pandey said.
The announcement follows violent protests after the CA overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to revert Nepal as a Hindu state, amid an already volatile situation over federal structure.