In a historic event Nepali parliament passing an undisputed amendment by 278 votes to five turned Nepal from a unitary state into a federal nation just after when monarchy was wiped out from the Himalayan nation few months ago.
The development took place as a riposte to the hostile grievances on the part of Madheshi people of insolvent southern Terai region who registered their disconcert over the less representation or less number of constituencies for southern plains that accommodates about half the country’s population and called for a mass protest, which later turned in to a bloody discord killing more than 25 people, against the newly formed government.
According to the fresh amendment, the number of constituencies will equally be distributed on the basis of proportion of the population especially in the distressed southern plains. The constitution also assured proportionate representation to underprivileged groups, such as women, ethnic minorities and low castes, in the entire state organizations.
The constitutional amendments may have made some drastic changes to correct the fate of the Himalayan Nation, the recent move perhaps appear loud-mouthed and away from the ground realities, for there are certain unanswered issues regarding the future, class and resources for the implementation of federalism in multi-cultural country.
At the same time, we cannot defy the acclaim for the bold move, though bit uncertain but in the right direction, taken by the Nepal’s parliament.
