As the constitution on Tuesday marks 100 days of its commencement, divisions among the political forces have posed a serious challenge in its implementation. Nepal’s new national constitution was praised for including provisions like equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and abolition of the death penalty. However, critics say it is regressive on some counts, such as citizenship rights. The national charter, promulgated on Sunday, has been welcomed by most Nepalis who hope that it will herald peace and prosperity in the once civil war-torn Himalayan nation. At the same time, many Nepalis in the country’s southern plains are protesting against state demarcation, citizenship and other provisions in the constitution, saying it pushes them further towards the margins. The protests, in which more than 40 people have died in recent weeks, have drawn critical attention from India, Nepal’s neighbor on three sides with which it shares an open border. Here’s what to know about Nepal’s new constitution.
