Haphazard constitutional amendments could ignite chaos: Chairman Prachanda

Kathmandu, September 23 — Pushpakamal Dahal "Prachanda," Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), has warned that if any attempts are made to amend the constitution in a haphazard manner, the country could reach a point where it cannot be managed. Speaking at an event in the capital on Monday, he urged leaders of the Congress and UML not to make such mistakes without consideration.

“Any slight tampering with the issue of constitutional amendment will open a Pandora’s box. It could pose a risk to the ability to manage the country. This is something we all need to pay attention to,” he cautioned. “If the rights given to the people are taken away, it will lead to significant chaos. I want to emphasize that we should not amend the constitution in a way that spreads disorder.”

He recalled that many forces had conspired to prevent the constitution from being easily drafted even during the second Constituent Assembly. He claimed to have played a major role in ensuring peace and the constitution during that time. He expressed concern about the possibility of the constitution not being established while he was still alive.

He also mentioned that the current electoral system helps institutionalize corruption and needs amendment. “The situation has become such that those without money cannot contest elections. Will spending millions really lead to political stability? After winning an election, the main objective becomes to become a minister and pay off the loans and expenses incurred during the campaign. Therefore, we need to pay attention to these issues when amending the constitution,” he said.

Additionally, he clarified that the current constitution embraces multi-party competition, indicating that a two-party system would not be appropriate in the context of Nepal. He warned that attempting to remove the secularism enshrined in the constitution would lead to major problems.