Protests In Nepal Over A Constitution Amendment Proposal To Meet Ethnic Groups’ Demands

Thousands of people in Nepal took to the streets on Wednesday (30 November) to protest against a Constitution amendment proposal, and particularly the proposal to split Province No. 5 in a bid to address the row over provincial boundaries.

The main opposition, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), has already rejected the proposal before its inception, while there is sharp division and discontent over the proposal within the ruling alliance - Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center).

The amendment proposal seeks to split some of the districts of the present Province No. 5 and to incorporate them in Province No. 4 and No. 6. Against this proposed change and in favour of a unified Province No. 5, thousands of people across party lines have joined hands since Wednesday morning.

With inputs from IANS