Nepal Votes To Amend Four-Month Old Constitution

Nepal's Parliament voted on January 24th to amend the newly passed Constitution to address concerns raised by Madhesis as well as other minority communities. The first amendment to the four-month old Constitution received two-thirds of the vote.

Nepal's parliament has voted to amend the country's new constitution. Three articles of the Nepali Constitution Article 42, Article 84 and Article 286 were amended to address the 11-point demands raised by the Madhesi parties. The new amendment has ensured higher representation in the government bodies on the basis of proportional inclusion of the Madhesis, as well as other marginalised communities.

However, a prominent leader of the agitating Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party Sarbendra Nath Sukla said they will continue protests against the constitution since their demands were not addressed by the first amendment.

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.