New Nepal constitution may not be drafted within May 28: Ram Baran Yadav

Nepal president Ram Baran Yadav today hoped that the ongoing peace process will reach its logical conclusion though the new Constitution may not be drafted within the stipulated time frame of May 28.
    
"It is the responsibility of all the political parties of Nepal to ensure a smooth conclusion for the peace process and frame the constitution unanimously," he said on the sidelines of a Yoga session here.

However, Yadav said that CA may not be able to draft the new Constitution as the political parties are yet to reach a consensus on the matter.

"Chances are slim that the draft constitution will be completed by the new time of May 28," Yadav said.
    
The comments of Yadav come at a time when media reports quoted the Maoists as saying that following the demise of Koirala, "certain elements" have become active and want to derail the peace process and drafting of the constitution.
    
The Constituent Assembly has failed to frame a draft by the March 5 deadline following lack of consensus among the main political parties. The CA has already exceeded the deadlines many times earlier as well.
    
Condoling the death of late Nepal prime minister GP Koirala, a strong votary of democracy in the nation, Yadav said government is determined to complete the tasks in time.

"After the monarchy, it is the responsibility of everybody to establish a strong democracy in Nepal. We are determined to complete the peace process and drafting the constitution in time -- it is the need of this democracy," Yadav said.

He said Nepal wants to enhance the bilateral ties with India.
    
"Both India and Nepal share a common culture. We want to take this relationship further in coming days and Yoga may play a role in this," he said.