Online Khabar
Kathmandu, November 30. The fresh round of trilateral talks involving the United Democratic Madheshi Front, the ruling coalition and the Nepali Congress ended inconclusively on Monday without even entering the main agenda of province delineation. The saving grace of the talks, which saw the UDMF vent ire on the government for suppressing the Madhesh Movement and spiking of the NC’s proposal to amend its constitution amendment proposal, was an understanding among parties to sit for another round on Wednesday.
This was the first time Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli took part in the talks between the ruling coalition, the main opposition and the UDMF.
At the meeting, UDMF leader Mahantha Thakur criticised the government for suppressing its movement in the southern plains. He made it clear that talks cannot continue if the government continues to suppress their movement.
UCPN-Maoist Vice-President Narayan Kaji Shrestha Prakash called for early resolution of the crisis, pointing that the blockade, suppression and political inaction was ruining the nation.
At the meeting, NC President Sushil Koirala had asked the ruling coalition to push ahead the constituent amendment proposal that the parties had tabled in the Parliament.
“Sushilji was for pushing the proposal and said discussions can continue, but UDMF leaders rejected this proposal,” a leader said.
The UDMF has already said that the NC’s amendment proposal is unacceptable, saying that the party had tabled the proposal without holding consultations with it.
A leader participating in the meeting said CPN-UML President and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli did not resort to any verbal tirade at the meeting and presented himself pretty soberly.
Prime Minister Oli appealed all concerned to think about the country and the people, pointing that the movement continuing for months had landed the country in crises and caused hardships to people.
“We all are doing politics for the country and the people, so let’s reconsider our respective stances and think about the country,” Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic President Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar quoted PM Oli. At the meeting, Oli asked UDMF leaders to leave the movement and engage in national reconstruction. Expressing readiness for resolution of the crises, he asked UDMF to come to an understanding.
Speaking at the meeting, CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal stressed the need for a way out, even by putting the seven-province federal model on hold. But the meeting did not touch upon Nepal’s proposal.
The participating leaders ended the meeting, agreeing to engage in internal homework on Tuesdayand sit for the next round on Wednesday.
The Madhesh movement has been going on for more than 100 days, pressing the state to redraw provincial boundaries and address a host of other demands. Citing this movement, India has been imposing an undeclared blockade against Nepal, causing a severe shortage of essentials like petroleum products.
