The government held discussions with ruling and allied parties on Saturday regarding the ordinances presented in the Federal Parliament. The focus of the discussion was the land-related ordinance, with particular attention to the concerns of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) Chairman Mahantha Thakur.
The meeting was convened in a bid to appease the LSP that objected to the Land Ordinance among the six ordinances presented by the government.
"LSP and Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepal (JSP-N) Nepal have objections to the Land Ordinance. JSP-N did not even attend the meeting," a leader privy to the meeting said. "JSP-N has been at odds with the government for some time now. But now even LSP is disgruntled, and they were called for discussions to prevent further problems."
At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli asked Mahantha Thakur about his specific objections.
"Everyone is welcome to the discussion. Let's talk about the issues. Mahantha ji, what is the matter? What are your objections? Let's find a solution through discussions. You should not proceed in a way that is uncooperative with the government," Oli said, as quoted by the leader. "Tell us your concerns in the discussion itself."
In response, Mahantha expressed his dissatisfaction with the government's failure to consult with the ruling parties before introducing the ordinance.
"No discussions were held regarding the Land Ordinance or any other ordinance. This is what I am unhappy about," Mahantha said during the discussion. "Our party has already publicly stated that the Land Ordinance cannot be accepted in its current form."
Leaders from Nepali Congress, Janamat Party, and the Ashok Rai-led faction of JSP also echoed Thakur's concerns. After all the parties' leaders stated that the Land Ordinance could not be accepted in its current form, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli proposed amending it through a replacement bill.
"There was a lapse in not holding discussions before the ordinance was introduced, but let's not make it an issue now. Let's discuss how we can improve it," Oli said.
Following this, Mahantha Thakur raised his concerns and demanded clarification from the government.
"Let's be clear about what will be done regarding land issues. I will not say anything about other ordinances. I reiterate that we have serious objections to the Land Ordinance," he said.
Subsequently, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba proposed forming a task force to resolve the Land Ordinance issue quickly.
"Almost everyone has raised objections to the land issue. Let's form a task force to make it acceptable to all," Deuba said, according to another leader.
After Deuba's proposal was agreed upon by the Prime Minister and all party representatives, Oli said that a task force would be formed within a day or two.
"Today's meeting has decided to form a task force to study the issues that were missed and those that should not have been included in the Land Ordinance, and to make it universally acceptable," Janamat MP Abdul Khan, who participated in the discussion, told Nepalkhabar.
He informed that the task force's leadership has not yet been decided.
According to him, the meeting also decided to address the disagreements regarding the ordinances other than land through the replacement bill.
Khan also said that it was agreed to present the five ordinances other than land in both houses of the Federal Parliament on February 18.
"It has been agreed to present the five ordinances in both houses on February 18," he said. "The land-related ordinance will be presented only after it is amended based on the task force's report."
The government had presented the ordinances in the House of Representatives meeting on January 31.
Although the ruling coalition of Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) has a clear majority in the House of Representatives to pass the ordinances, JSP-Nepal is decisive in the National Assembly. It has three MPs. JSP-N has also been opposing the Land Ordinance.
After LSP, which has one member in the National Assembly, also became disgruntled, NC and UML agreed to form a task force and amend the ordinance.
NC and UML are preparing to hold discussions with JSP-N Chairman Upendra Yadav and others on Sunday. The Bill requires approval from both the houses for its passage.
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