Mr. Modi advised Nepali parties on writing new Constitution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘suggestion’ to Nepal’s political parties on how to write the new Constitution has been criticised by Nepal’s leading newspapers and politicians.

On Thursday, the country’s top Nepali dailies said Mr. Modi breached diplomatic norms and displayed the “old Indian habit of interfering in Nepal’s internal matters”.

During his remarks at the inauguration and hand over ceremony of Trauma Centre for Bir Hospital in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Mr. Modi, while pointing out the perils of delay in writing the new Constitution, urged political parties to write the statute by consensus. He went on to warn about the risks involved in deciding the statute through numerical strength in the Constituent Assembly (CA). The Opposition parties, which were defeated in November election for the Constituent Assembly, have been insisting on “consensus only” approach despite agreeing, in March this year, to go for voting if consensus failed.

“Indian PM breached diplomatic Lakshman rekha (norms),” the Kantipur wrote in its editorial. “He also has not taken into account provisions in our Interim Constitution by asking the parties not to decide on the Constitution on the basis of numerical strength.” The Interim Constitution suggests writing the new statute through consensus but if that failed, process of voting needs to be adopted, a position taken by the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

Another daily, the Nagarik, also accused Mr. Modi of practising “new diplomacy” with his remarks. The newspaper noted that the Indian Prime Minister had demonstrated respect and goodwill during his August bilateral visit and desisted from displaying “big brother” attitude. “But he was apparently under intense pressure this time to correct that approach and hence resorted to the old policy.”

Both the papers also objected to the Indian PM’s warning about the risks of deciding then Constitution through majority. Another national daily, Annapurna Post, noted that the Prime Minister should have refrained from appearing to side with one political faction in Nepal.

Kantipur laid the blame on Nepali political leaders’ failure and dependence on outside powers for this interference. However, Kantipur’s sister publication, The Kathmandu Post, took the suggestion positively in a brief mention in an editorial devoted to SAARC Summit. “It was well-intended advice,” the newspaper wrote.

Mr. Modi had also suggested that the Constitution could be passed with agreed contents and that amendments could be made to the statute if required. The UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties are reluctant to take that approach. They have welcomed his suggestion on consensus approach since the ruling parties wield two-thirds majority in the Constituent Assembly.

“He spoke the right thing; we have been all along saying that Constitution should be written by consensus,” Upendra Yadav, Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal told The Hindu on Tuesday.

While Krishna Bahadur Mahara of the UCPN (Maoist) welcomed the Modi remarks, his colleague, Narayan Kaji Shrestha termed it as an interference, an assessment that the NC and the UML leaders share.

“We are also in favour of writing the Constitution through consensus,” Mr. Shrestha, UCPN (Maoist) vice chairman and former foreign minister said. “But the way Modiji tried to dictate his views, it was not proper. It smacked of interference.”

The deadline for promulgating the new Constitution is January 22. However, the parties here have not been able to settle disputes regarding state restructuring, model of governance, electoral system and judiciary.