Talks with UDMF inconclusive; UDMF to continue agitation

Kathmandu / November 1: The disputed issue of the demarcation of provincial boundary is being discussed in the talks between the government and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).

The talks took a positive turn after both the sides presented in a flexible manner during the discussion held at the office of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal at Tinkune this evening. Both sides termed the talks positive with the discussion on the delineation of provincial boundary moving to a progress.

The government has pledged to address some of the demands put forth by the UDMF. Among them, the government has made a commitment in writing to provide treatment and compensation to those injured during Madhes unrest and withdraw fake cases field against them.

Government talks team coordinator and Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa told media that today’s dialogue with agitating UDMF was very important and positive. “In course of the talks, the government has made a formal and written commitment to provide treatment to those injured and compensation to those killed during Madhes struggle and to withdraw fake case filed against UDMF cadres. The monitoring team comprising representatives from both sides are monitoring the development”, he said.

The talks tam also delved into the issue of demarcation of provincial boundary – one of the major issued raised by agitating parties –and the government has pledged to address the issue through constitutional process by forging political consensus, DPM Thapa added.

With this, the meeting decided to sit again soon with sufficient homework of forging party agreement on these issues.

According to DPM Thapa, the government as per the demand of the Front put forth the roadmap for resolving the disputes and took seriously the issues of federal mapping.

The Front too has taken the talks positively, for the government has made commitment to address some of its demands. Lal Babu Raut of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal said the dialogue formally entered the federal mapping, and the government side took it positively.

“The government side took Front’s demand on demarcation positively on Sunday dialogue. For this, a high level committee is essential and next round of talk will he held with proper homework. More important is the agreement that main opposition Nepali Congress too will brought to the dialogue next time,” he added. However, he said agitation would not stop right now.

The Front has the bottom-line that Madhes be federated in two provinces as per the report of the High Level State Restructuring Commission. But, the government is saying that it can be resolved through the federal commission.

The dialogue was attended by DPM Thapa, Minister for Law Agni Kharel, Minister for General Administration Rekha Sharma and Minister without portfolio Ram Janam Chaudhari from government side while leaders Hridayesh Tripathi, Laxman Lal Karna, Lal Babu Raut and Ram Naresh Yadav from the agitating Front’s side. RSS