Sujata Koirala calls for referendum on federalism

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala Saturday demanded a referendum on a federal structure for Nepal as Maoists declared 13 federal autonomous regions amid protests of ruling parties.
Koirala, who is also foreign minister, made his call at a function in the capital Saturday.
She said declaring 15 to 18 federal states out of a nation created by King Prithvi Narayan Shah will disintegrate the country.
Her father, Girija Prasad Koirala, who acceded to terai demands when he was prime minister has renegaded on his promises and is pushing for a north, south division of the country like in the panchayat.
Maoists have claimed their declaration of federal provinces in a campaign to educate people on federal structure.
It was not known if Sujata was speaking for the party or for herself.
RPP_Nepal has collected two million signatures also demanding a referendum on a federal structure.
Rashtriya Janamukti Morcha, an opposition party, is conducting a nation-wide protest against a federal structure.
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Ruling parties call for talks with two parties on 7th amendment

Kathmandu, 2 Jan.: After talks with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday, 10 ruling parties called for talks with Maoists and MJF of Upendra Yadav to approve a bill to amend the 7th amendment of the constitution.
A bill has been presented in parliament but is opposed by Maoists and three other parties.
The parties that oppose the bill charge it is aimed to give continuity to government.
The amendment proposes the president, vice-president and ministers can take their oaths of office and secrecy in Nepali as well as their mother tongue.
NSP said public officials should be permitted to take their oaths in Hindi, not a mother tongue of Nepalis.
Government has said inactive Vice-President Parmananda Jha can resume work after the bill is approved this week.
He has been inactive after the supreme court ruled an oath he took in Hindi was unconstitutional.
The government has presented the bill at a time when the president is scheduled to pay a state visit of India.
Questions have been raised who will assume his duties in the absence of the head of state.
The bill can’t be approved without the support of Maoists, the largest party in parliament.
The bill has to be approved with a two-third majority in the 601-member house.
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