President Ram Baran Yadav has said he won't sign a constitution that will divide the country. The President's words may sound patriotic and please conformists but he should realise that as a ceremonial head of state he does not have the authority to make such political statements. Lately, President Yadav has been publicising the need to include all three regions - Himal, Pahad and the Tarai - while creating new states. He also opposes state restructuring based on ethnicity and favours the outdated Westminster system over a directly- elected executive president or a mixed governance system.

Yadav's recent statement has raised a serious question: will he accept a constitution that goes against his beliefs? If the President does not want to sign a constitution which supports ethnic federalism, inclusion and secularism he should sign his resignation letter before 27 May instead in order to protect his archaic values. The 15-year long people's war and the April revolution have made it fairly clear that Nepalis want these ideals to be enshrined in the constitution. The interim constitution too stipulates that the President has to approve the decision endorsed by the CA without asking any questions. Therefore, it is wrong for him, both legally and morally, to reject the constitution.