KATHMANDU, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Anti-government protests flared up in different parts of Nepal on Wednesday against the constitution amendment proposal recently tabled by the government at the Legislature Parliament.
The amendment was registered by the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government to address grievances of ethnic Madhesi communities who have been agitated for more than one year, expressing serious reservations on the key contents of the new constitution including seven provincial boundaries, citizenship and political representation at the lower and upper House.
As part of their protest, thousands of political party cadres and ordinary people took to the streets in various districts of Western Region including the Capital city Kathmandu.
The protests have come a day after the government tabled the proposal at the House for the second time after promulgation of new constitution in September last year.
Political party cadres, especially those who are from the main opposition party CPN (UML), are running protests against the government, while cadres and local leaders from the governing Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre) joined in them.
All party demonstrators have staged huge rallies since Wednesday morning, blocking the East-West Highway at Butwal, the headquarters of Rupandehi District.
Demonstrations are being held at Kaski, Gulmi, Kapilwastu, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Nawalparasi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi and Rupandehi Districts in Western Nepal, according to local media reports.
Indefinite strike has been announced in these districts, halting the vehicular movement.
"This rally is the first phase of our protest where we exert pressure to the central leaders. We hope they don't take decision against our wish," Bishnu Muskan, the Arghakhanchi District President of ruling Nepali Congress was quoted by the Kathmandu Post Online.
The constitution amendment proposal, which has sparked huge controversy across the country, was approved by the Cabinet meeting earlier on Tuesday.
The proposal was backed by most of the political parties of Nepal, except the main opposition CPN (UML). This will be the second amendment to the Nepal's new constitution, if approved by the two-thirds majority.
According to the government proposal, the demarcation of provinces 4 and 5 will be changed by swapping some districts.
New languages will be given the national language status and included in the Constitution's schedule in line with the report given by the Language Commission formed by the government.
According to the amendment proposal, any foreign woman married to a Nepalese male can obtain naturalised citizenship after she abandons her citizenship of the country of her birth.
To make the Upper House of the Parliament more inclusive, the proposal has sought representation of one member each from Dalit (untouchable), woman and marginalised community categories and the remaining five to be elected on the basis of population of each province.
The composition of the Upper House is eight members from each of the proposed seven provinces.
Meanwhile, the CPN (UML), the main opposition party, has decided to intensify massive protests at both the street and House against the constitution amendment proposal.
The opposition party believed that the proposal to split the Province 5 will bring conflict among the people.
"We want answer from the ruling parties what was the reason behind splitting the Province 5. Such a decision may jeopardize country's territorial integrity and sovereignty in future inviting communal violence," UML leader Subhash Nembang told media.
Nepal issued the new constitution on September 20 last year after it became secular republic in 2008 with the overthrow of the 240-year Monarchy.
