Nepali Congress declines to join constitutional amendment task force, demands clarity from government

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress has opted not to send a representative to the government's task force for drafting a constitutional amendment discussion paper, choosing instead to submit its position via a formal letter. Krishna Prasad Dulal, acting chief secretary of the Congress central office, confirmed the submission through a press release.

The Congress submitted its stance to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers regarding the invitation to participate in the task force.

• Details of the letter sent by the Congress

The letter, dated 2082/12/18 (Ref. 2082/83, Dispatch No. Ka/711/3496), acknowledges receipt of the government's request to nominate a representative following the Cabinet decision on 2082/12/16. The Nepali Congress welcomes the government's priority on broad discussion and consensus prior to any constitutional amendment.

The Constitution of Nepal, promulgated in 2072 B.S. under the leadership of the Nepali Congress, represents a historic achievement reflecting the aspirations of the Nepali people. It was a compromise document based on consensus among political parties and various identity-based groups. The Nepali Congress proudly commemorates this.

Ten years have passed since the promulgation of the Constitution. The Nepali Congress maintains that as a dynamic document, it is a natural democratic process to amend and update it according to the needs of the citizens.

The Nepali Congress believes that the core values of the Constitution—including democracy, republicanism, federalism, parliamentary system, independent judiciary, and human rights—must be strengthened without compromise.

While the Congress supports the government's initiative to make the Constitution more inclusive, it requires clarity on the task force's methodology, scope, and objectives before nominating a representative.

1. The letter notes that while the task force is intended to prepare a discussion paper, its jurisdiction and limitations remain undefined.

2. The government must clarify how it intends to ensure the process is participatory and inclusive, considering the historical context of the peace process and identity-based movements.

3. The government must clarify its approach toward political parties outside the federal parliament and its strategy for engaging marginalized communities, including Madhesi, Indigenous, Tharu, and Dalit groups.

4. Given the current government leadership, the Nepali Congress seeks a clear commitment from the ruling party regarding the fundamental values of the Constitution and the specific priorities for amendment.

The Nepali Congress believes that its participation will be meaningful only if the government publicly clarifies the relevance, methodology, and goals of the proposed constitutional amendment.