I am in favour of talks: PM’s letter to the UDMF

Kathmandu / May 24: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that he was in favour of talks with the protesting United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).

The PM’s statement is a reply to the latter submitted by the UDMF, accusing the government of being apathetic towards their demands.

Referring to talks between the UDMF and the government to sort out tension in the Tarai in the past, PM Oli also said that various talks that took place between the incumbent government and agitating political parties associated with the UDMF had helped understand some misunderstandings left out in the process, said the letter sent by the PM to the UDMF on Monday night.

“For a protesting party, in some cases, achievements made at its own initiation may hold less value. So talks between us (the government and UDMF) did make some achievements and they addressed some important concerns of the UDMF,” the letter said.

PM Oli said that the government made first amendment to the constitution as per the demand of the UDMF. “And with the amendment, some of its demands like proportional and inclusive representation and an issue related to citizenship card have been addressed,” the letter said.

Brushing off the claims of the UDMF that PM himself disrupted talks, he urged the UDMF to understand the fact that PM himself stressed the need for talks, dialogues and cooperation with it while delivering speeches at formal and informal programmes.

Saying that the government is serious towards chaos prevailing in Tarai-Madhes following the UDMF protest and human and property losses as a result, he said that the government will not get away with its responsibility to provide treatment for those injured in Tarai agitations.

“If something is left out with regard to the demands of the UDMF, it will be addressed immediately. I want to state that compensation amounts have already been released for the families of those killed in the protest,” the letter said.

In relation to the concerns that force was used in the course of the agitations, he said that it has already been made clear that investigation into the case would be carried out.

The PM also said that the meeting of the proposed committee formed to sort out the issue of the demarcation of provincial boundaries and the committee could be reshuffled, urging concerned authorities not to get stuck with various preconditions in the process. RSS