Pokhara, January 22. UCPN-Maoist Chair Prachanda has described the loss of lives in police firing in Rangeli as sad and unfortunate.

Prachanda was referring to the death of three people in police firing during a protest that United Democratic Madheshi Front had organised in Rangeli on Thursday, coinciding with a CPN-UML gathering. Prachanda was speaking at a programme that Revolutionary Journalists’ Association had organised in Kaski on Friday. He said extremist ways like this will not help the parties concerned find a way out.

We are in constant contact with the UDMF, he said, they have reached an understanding, by and large. Also coordinator of the high-level political mechanism, Prachanda said efforts are on to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill on Saturdayitself. He refuted charges that the three major parties and the UDMF had failed to reach an understanding on issues related to Madhesh because of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Prachanda said the Indian blockade will end once Nepal’s political parties come to an understanding. Describing the blockade imposed against a landlocked nation as unfortunate, he said the blockade will end without compromising on national self-respect. Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed concern about the loss of three lives in the Rangeli police firing. It said political problems require political solution.