RJPN will start agitation if constitution not amended by mid-June, warns Yadav

KATHMANDU, July 8: Mahendra Raya Yadav, leader of Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN), has warned that his party will withdraw support from the government and start agitation if the government fails to endorse the constitution amendment bill tabled at the parliament.

Speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal of Saturday, Yadav said that RJPN cannot wait more than a week as the ruling parties had assured them of amending the constitution by mid-June and address all address all the demands of the agitating party.

“If it doesn’t happen as the ruling parties promised, we will withdraw the support from the government and start agitation against the government,” said Yadav.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and leaders of ruling parties at a meeting with RJPN leaders on Friday had assured that the government will amendment the constitution by mid-June and address all their concerns so as to bring them aboard the third round of local level election slated on September 18.

RJPN leaders have demanded endorsement of the amendment bill, increase in the number of local units in the southern plains, withdrawal of cases filed against their party cadres and compensation for those injured during the Madhes movement.

“We are waiting one more week. If the ruling parties fails to address our concerns by then, then all these talks and negotiations will have no meaning at all,” Yadav further said.

He also expressed doubt that the main opposition party CPN-UML would ever favor the bill. “UML has shown reservations over the bill since the first time it was brought. We cannot trust them over this matter,” he added.