India concern over Nepal violence following new constitution

“I announce the constitution of Nepal, passed by the Constituent Assembly and authenticated by (its) chairman, effective from today, September 20, 2015, before the people of Nepal“, President Ram Baran Yadav said as he unveiled the statute in Parliament.

This is the seventh constitution to be promulgated in Nepal in the last 67 years, the promulgation of the constitution signified Nepal’s transition from a Hindu Monarchy to a democratic secular republic.

The new constitution will divide the country of 28 million people into seven federal provinces, a move aimed at devolving power but which some marginalised groups said will leave them under-represented in parliament.

Nepalese people burn portraits of Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil…

“We made him aware about our reservations over the endorsed constitution of Nepal and the ongoing protests in Tarai”, said Sadbhawana Party’s Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna, who attended the lunch meeting.

“The new constitution has a number of major human rights shortcomings which… need to be urgently addressed”, said David Griffiths, Amnesty’s research director for South Asia.

“This has, however, been taken to new heights now with the callous disregard shown to Nepal’s sovereign right to formulate the country’s Constitution as per their own democratic process”, he added.

In an official statement, Nepal’s Ministry of External Affairs suggested administrators are willing to negotiate the more controversial points of Nepal’s new constitution.

The agitating Madhesi parties are demanding more districts with more resources under their territory and proportionate representation of their ethnic community in government bodies as well as reforms in the citizenship laws.

Sunday before the constitution was formally adopted, at least one person was killed and several were wounded after security forces opened fire on a crowd that defied a curfew in the southern town of Birgunj.

There are more than 100 ethnic groups in Nepal and some want states named after them.

Celebrations were held around the country on Monday, including in Biratnagar, scene of the protests earlier in the day.

It called for the resolution of differences through dialogue and in an atmosphere free from violence and intimidation.

The situation was worse in some parts of the constitution and protests in recent weeks, 40 people have been killed. They also gathered in front of the Constituent Assembly hall in large numbers.