Maoists won’t support govt. bill for 7th amendment of constitution


By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 4 Jan.: Maoists Sunday decided not to support a government bill to amend the interim constitution for the 7th time.
The main opposition will join the Upendra Yadav faction of the MJF in opposing the amendment, Vice-Chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said after a meeting.
Shrestha accused the government for presenting the bill without consulting opposition.
Government said the bill was being introduced in parliament to enable the government to activate he vice-presidency.
But both opposition parties said the amendment won’t enable Vice-President Parmananda Jha to resume duties.
The amendment will enable a president, vice-president to take their oaths of office in Nepali as well as the mother tongue.
Jha is inactive after the supreme court ruled Jha’s oath in Hindi was unconstitutional; the former supreme court justice he has refused to take his oath in Nepali.
Shrestha said his party wants to activate the vice-presidency; Jha, the two parties content, won’t be able to resume his duties even after the amendment.
Hindi isn’t a mother tongue of Nepalis.
MJF central committee is meeting Monday to discuss the bill and other issues, including a movement in the south.
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Cold wave hits east, central terai districts

Kathmandu, 4 Jan. A cold wave in the east and central districts has killed more than a dozen people in recent days.
Eight persons have frozen to death in Saptari, the worst affected district.
Four others have died in Dhanusha and Mohottari.
The cold wave has disrupted flights.
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