Nepal - national bandh for a new costitution

   

CPN Maoist declared ‘People’s Constitution’ of Nepal
Today the CPN Maoists declared a People’s Constitution in a rally attended by thousands of people. The ‘People’s Constitution of Nepal’ has 82 clauses. The rally started and ended in Ratna Park; in the central part of Kathmandu. The opening address was by politburo member Anil Sharma “Birahi”. Rally that marched around the city was led by Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma ‘Prakanda’, standing committee member of CPN Maoist Birahi said in his speech that the mainstream parties have betrayed the agreements that were signed during the people’s war.
Hence it has been deemed mandatory to come out with a people’s constitution. The entire document was read by Santosh Budha Magar; politburo member and former chief of the state of Magarat during the people’s war. After the entire constitution was read; there was a speech by CPN Maoist standing committee member and spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma “Prakanda”. “The constitution that will be declared tomorrow has omitted people’s rights and is discriminatory towards women, indigenous groups, the working class and marginalised people in general. This constitution is more regressive than the interim constitution in place right now. It only aims to serve a certain class of people who serve the three major ruling parties.” said Prakanda.
The program ended with Birahi ”We have already had a government and constitution during the people’s war so its not anything new for us to implement a people’s constitution.” He went on to challenge the Nepali state by ending the program “Tomorrow will be the day that, officially, the 12 point agreement will have been broken by the major parties. This then paves the path for us to restart the people’s war.” CPN Maoists have declared a general strike starting 5am tomorrow morning to defy Nepal government’s constitution declaration day.
Via Ignite South Asia 
A street wears a deserted look in bandh called by CPN Maoist led by Netra Bikram Chand (Biplap) in New Road, Pokhara on Sunday, September 20, 2015.

Protests over new Nepal constitution vindicate India’s position
At the highest levels in the Government of India, Nepal’s new constitution and the manner in which it has been pushed through is being viewed as ‘a major problem’ that could lead to strife and conflict right across the open border, top sources have said. Nepal’s top political leadership may not have listened to foreign secretary S Jaishankar’s advice to take dissenting forces on board before constitution promulgation. But Delhi feels that mass protests across the Tarai as well as the police killing of a protester in the bordering town of Birgunj have vindicated its position that Nepali leaders were playing with fire.

Delhi noted the ‘promulgation of a constitution’, but it refrained from welcoming it on Sunday. The use of the phrase ‘a’ is seen as significant, for India does not see it as the definitive document it is meant to be. India is upset with the Nepali political elite’s false assurances to India and amused at its opportunistic use of the ‘nationalism’ card. It is also clear there is no alternative to a substantial review and amendment of the constitution. And it feels there is no durable solution without taking Madhesi, Tharu and Janjati concerns on board. At the moment, no Tarai party has signed the constitution.