Mohammed Sadrul/ Manoj Dahal
Biratnagar, Sept 17: The nation is all geared up for celebrating the third Constitution Day marking the promulgation of the constitution through the historic Constituent Assembly on September 20, 2015.

The first constitution of the federal democratic republic of Nepal is taken as a progressive and inclusive one in multiple ways as it was drafted by the people’s representatives. The very beginning of its preamble says, “We, the sovereign people of Nepal…”

The country had already recorded the successful completions of three layers of elections ( local, province and center), held in course of implementing the country’s main law that has guaranteed proportional representatives of women, marginalized and other backward communities in every State apparatus. It has ensured the 33 per cent women participation in the every State bodies; recognizing the rights of mother’s to pass the citizenship to her offspring which was just a dream for Nepali women in the past.

The successful holding of three-tier election was itself a grave challenge for political parties at the time.

The Nepali people, through the twin federal and province elections held in two rounds gave the two-third majority to the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) which led to the formation of the (incumbent) government headed by one of the party chairs KP Sharma Oli.

With these political developments in the nation, political agenda have been pacified and the governments from the center to local are committed to transforming the overall status of the country in to a prosperous one by making the people happy.
But women still see the need of revisions in the fundamental law of Nepal due to some citizenship-related provisions discriminating against them.

Women, Peace, Research and Development Center central chair and advocate Sanju Shah said, “The constitution has guaranteed the citizenship in mother’s or father’s name. But some conditions attached to it are enough to say that it has not accepted the independent identity of mothers.” The country’s main law seeks the presence of father in the citizenship this or that way, despite enshrining the women’s equal lineage right without gender-based discrimination.

Nepali women wishing to pass the citizenship to her children (by descent) shall prove that the child’s father is a Nepali citizen or mention that the father is unknown or not traced. The condition put under the Article 11 (5) of constitution reads, “Provided that his or her father is held to be a foreign citizen, the citizenship of such person shall be converted into naturalized citizenship as provided for in the Federal law. There are other some discriminatory provisions as well.

She insisted on the need of ensuring the women’s 33 per cent participation at the decision making levels. “The constitution is not liberal to the upliftment and capacity enhancement of Madhesi dalit women.

Inruwa based senior advocate Kedar Bhadari said that though there were some misunderstandings among some political parties in course of promulgating the constitution.

political parties have agreed to amend the discriminatory provisions regarding the citizenships.

Province 1 provincial assembly member Sabitra Kumari Regmi said although the constitution has been successful in establishing many rights of the women, their proportional rights in terms of population have not yet been secured.

She called for amending the constitution ensuring the offspring the right to citizenship in the mother’s name, stressing on the full implementation of the constitution and ensuring complete rights to women.

Morang District president of the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Raj Kumar Yadav, called for amending the present constitution to ensure identity-based federalism, inclusive democracy, proportional inclusiveness, formation of 11 provinces based on recognition of national identity and rights and to incorporate autonomous region, protected area and the non-geographical special area as political structure.

A 501-member Constitution Day Celebration Main Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Province 1 Chief Minister Sherdhan Rai to mark the constitution day in Province 1 in a grand manner on September 19.

Various programs as publication of articles in newspapers and broadcasting talks on topics related to the constitution on radio and television have been planned on September 17 and 18 to mark the Constitution Day while a mass assembly would be organized at the local stadium on September 19, Spokesman at the Provincial Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Rabinra Acharya, said.

A management committee has also been formed with Province 1 Government Chief Secretary, Kedar Prasad Neupane, for the celebration of the Constitution Day.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT BHISHMA RAJ OJHA, NEW YORK, SEPT 23: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has highlighted that the Constitution of Nepal accommodates aspirations of all Nepali people and lays the foundation for inclusive development and economic prosperity.

Addressing a reception hosted by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nation to celebrate the second anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal and the national day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, today, PM Deuba said the political transformation cannot sustain without economic transformation.

Noting that no force can cease the constitution-bestowed people’s rights in Nepal, he said, “The Constitution has enshrined best provisions towards maintaining check and balances among the three organs of the state. Independent judiciary is the pillar of Nepal’s democracy”.

The Prime Minister further noted that the local level elections have been peacefully and enthusiastically held in the country in a participatory way and also informed that the nation is holding parliamentary and provincial elections this year.

It is an encouraging story for the globe that Nepal, despite several challenges, brought the armed conflict to a logical conclusion through the means of dialogue and talks and asked the world community to support Nepal’s candidacy to the member of UN Human Rights Council in this context.

Also present on the occasion were Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay and distinguished guests from other countries.

On behalf of Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Asha Koirala and PM’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Dinesh Bhattarai were also present on the occasion.

On the sidelines of ongoing UNGA General Debate, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with the President of Estonia and Prime Minister of Bhutan. In his meeting with Kersti Kaljulaid, the President of Estonia, various issues of common bilateral and multilateral interests were discussed. As Estonia is the current president of the European Union, Nepal’s relations with the European Union also figured in the meeting.

Similarly, in the meeting between Deuba and.Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, the two leaders expressed their commitments to diversifying and further strengthening bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Deuba gave directions to the Americas-based heads of Nepali diplomatic Missions to continue their good work for the nation and people. RSS

YANGON, Sept 22: The Embassy of Nepal in Yangon organized a reception ceremony at Melia Hotel Yangon to mark the Constitution Day on Wednesday.

All together about 180 guests including Ambassadors of SAARC and ASEAN countries, Germany, Russia, Poland, Korea,  Serbia, Head of UN Agencies, senior government officials, Nepalis working in Myanmar, PNOs, media people and civil society leaders attended the program.

Welcoming the guests Bhim Udas, Ambassador of Nepal said that the Constitution Day (also National Day of Nepal) is celebrated to mark historic day of the promulgation of the new constitution of Nepal by the then President Ram Baran Yadav after its endorsement by almost 90% members of the Constituent Assembly on 20 September 2015.

He further said that Nepal’s constitution was inclusive where the voice of all the segments of the society was incorporated.

Highlighting the feature of Nepal’s constitution, he added, “One of the significant features is to recognize the role of women in social justice, governance and development. Women have equal rights in property and have right to participate in all the state structures, such as, local body, state assembly and legislative parliament, on the basis of proportional representation. Women must have at least one-third representation at all levels. Coincidently, the President and Speaker of the legislative parliament are women. On top, Chief Justice was a woman until she retired 3-months before.”

Though the diplomatic relation was established between Myanmar and Nepal in 1960, the two nations share historically close relations defined by shared traditions, religion, culture and linguistic linkages going back to the time of Lord Buddha. While the Gurkhas fought for the independence of Myanmar (then Burma) in 1947 at which many Gurkha soldiers sacrificed their life Myanmar supported Nepal in the fight for democracy in 1950.

Ambassador Udas also said that the cordial and close bilateral relations existed between two friendly countries will be further strengthened in coming days.

He added, “People-to-people relations have cemented to make it strong. Economic cooperation is the priority focus of new republic Nepal in its relation with the new civilian government in Myanmar. Tourism, trade and investment are main focus of our economic diplomacy.”

Chief Guest of the program, Dr.Than Myint, Union Minister for Commerce expressed his heartiest congratulations to the Ambassador and through him, to the people and the Government of Nepal. He also mentioned that the diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Nepal was established the diplomatic relations  between Myanmar and Nepal 57 years ago and close cultural, religious, and traditional affinities between the peoples of Myanmar and Nepal playing an instrumental role in fostering bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries and peoples.

He also spelled out that the Golden Pagoda built by Myanmar in Lumbini is a symbol of friendship between the peoples of Myanmar and Nepal, and the collaboration between Myanmar and Nepal at the international arena is growing under the regional framework, such as,BIMSTEC, SAARC and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue(ACD).

In the beginning, national anthems of Myanmar and Nepal were played. A Nepali cultural dance was performed by a Nepali girl.

In the morning, Flag hoisting Ceremony was held at the Embassy where about 50 persons including diplomatsliving in Yangon were present.

Also, Deepawali was performed from September 18 to 20 in the Embassy building to mark the National Day.

KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Constitution Day has been marked amid a special ceremony on Tuesday. The day is marked as the national day to celebrate the enactment of new constitution of Nepal through historic Constitution Assembly in 2015.

The national day was celebrated by organizing various programs at the Nepal Army Pavilion in Tundikhel in Kathmandu. President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, ministers, lawmakers, senior leaders of various political parties and other high level officials participated the ceremony to mark the occasion.

The Nepal Army also presented a guard of honor in respect of President Bhandari.

Before 2015, Constitution Day was marked on November 9 to commemorate the 1990 constitution.

Photo Courtesy: Mukunda Kalikote

KATHMANDU, Sept 18: Speaker Onsari Gharti on Monday hosted a reception at the Legislature-Parliament, at New Baneswor, on the occasion of the third anniversary day of the promulgation of the Constitution.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshi, top leaders of major political parties, chiefs of constitutional bodies, lawmakers, industrialists, chiefs of diplomatic missions, media persons were present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Speaker Gharti said that the constitution has moved ahead in the process of implementation.

On the occasion, she said that three-round of local level election was held and expressed the belief that the constitution implementation process would take a new pace after the elections of House of Representatives and State Assemblies scheduled for November 26 and December 7.

The Speaker also expressed gratitude towards those who participated and helped the constitution implementation process.

Speaker Gharti expected that the government and major political parties would be successful to complete the remaining task as per the people’s wishes and aspirations.

She also urged all sides to maintain collaboration and unity in days ahead too to fulfill the nation’s responsibility and address the people’s aspirations.

The Constituent Assembly had promulgated the constitution on Asoj 3, 2072. RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept 15: Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet has said the constitution was being implemented effectively.

The local elections have ensured the ‘grand implementation’ of the constitution, he said, adding that the preparation for the local level election in Province No 2 was complete, while the preparations for the elections of provincial parliament and of House of Representatives were going in full swing.

“Country is now resonated with the election atmosphere,” he underscored.

Speaking with the officials of the subordinate agencies in connection with the imminent Constitution Day (Asoj 3), the Minister urged everyone to mark the Constitution Day as a grand festival.

Also the subcommittee coordinator under the Constitution Day Main Celebration Committee, Minister Basnet informed that government was marking this Constitution Day in a different and splendid manner. For this, cooperation from all sides was essential, he added.

“Country can’t suffer uncertainty for long in the name of transition. After holding the remaining elections, the country makes headway to economic prosperity,” he said, adding that as the celebration of the Constitution Day also indicates how we implement the constitution. Therefore, the government urges all departments and agencies under the Ministry to actively help it in its bid to celebrate the Constitution Day with grandeur, he reiterated.

On a different note, Minister Basnet said government was for making the online media more systematic and respectable in view of its importance.

Similarly, Minister of State for Information and Communications, Tapta Bahadur Bista, said time has come to make people informed about the importance of constitution.

Ministry Secretary Mahendra Man Gurung further said preparation was on to celebrate the Constitution Day in a way that makes people aware of the achievements the constitution ensured.

Director General of the Department of Information, Bir Bahadur Rai, mentioned about the publicity programmes to be organised during Constitution Day.

Speakers at the programme suggested celebrating Constitution Day from centre to local-level in a creative way.

Likewise, National News Agency Chairperson, Kul Chandra Wagle, senior news editor of Nepal Television, Manohari Thapa, Chairperson of Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, Subas Khatiwada, Chairperson of Online Journalists Association, Shiva Satyal, among others briefed the role of their media to make the Day effective and successful.

The main celebration committee was formed under chairmanship of the Prime Minister on September 11 to celebrate the Constitution Day on Asoj 3, in a magnificent manner. Three sub-committees were formed under the main committee. RSS