KATHMANDU, JUL 20 - The two-day national campaign of collecting public feedback on draft constitution has begun across the country on Monday.
There will be public hearing in 240 electoral constituencies today and tomorrow between Constituent Assembly (CA) members and public. Government has announced public holiday for two days to support the campaign. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and top leaders of major parties have appealed people to provide their valuable suggestions on the draft.
Four Madhes-based parties that are protesting draft have obstructed the process in some parts of Madhes. In Rautahat, cadres of Madhes-based obstructed the public opinion collection process led by Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal. Security situation has been tightened in Madhes belt considering the possible protest by Madhes-based parties. PM Koirala is going to his home district Banke to participate a public programme on feedback collection.
CA members have already reached their constituencies for gathering people’s views on the proposed constitution. More than 590 lawmakers and 150 officials from the CA Secretariat have been deployed for feedback collection, with top political leaders pledging to engage in public hearings in their respective constituencies. On July 9, the Assembly endorsed a 15-day action plan for public consultation.
Local party leaders and social activists have been helping Constituent Assembly members and CA Secretariat officials to collect people’s inputs for the law of the land. Informal sessions were held on Sunday to gather public opinion. People put forth their suggestions mainly on matters related to secularism, federalism and capital punishment.