The first round of talks between Nepal’s main agitating group of Indian-origin Madhesis and the government over the new Constitution’s federal structure ended inconclusively as the blockade in the Nepal-India border continued for the 12th day, severely affecting normal life.
The Terai region’s Joint Democratic Madhesi Front (JDMF), protesting division of their ancestral homeland in the seven- province federal structure, came to the negotiating table for dialogue with the government’s talks team in a development seen as a sign of potential rapprochement amid a violent, political unrest in the Himalayan nation.
However, the much-anticipated talks could not yield any result as the government representatives failed to present a clear road map to address their demands, according to one of the participants from the Madhesi groups.
Both the sides have, nevertheless, agreed to resume talks tomorrow as well.
Laxman Lal Karna from Sadbhawana Party said the government negotiators failed to present a solid proposal to end the protests.
The activity in southern Nepal bordering India has stalled normal life in the area for several weeks and halted the flow of fuel and supplies to the country’s north, including the capital.
“We will not end our protests until our demands are addressed,” he said.
In the meeting, the JDMF team put forth a proposal for the amendment of various provisions of the new Constitution, including those related to citizenship, demarcation of provinces, fixation of electoral constituencies based on population density and inclusive and proportional representation.
The government talks team led by Forest Minister and Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya includes UCPN-Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha and CPN-UML leader Agni Kharel as members.
Meanwhile, Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhawana Party, Sarvendra Nath Shukla of Terai Madhesh Democratic Party, Lal Babu Raut of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal and Ram Naresh Ray of Terai Madhesh Sadbhawana Party are members of the UDMF talks team.
“We are making all possible efforts to resolve this as soon as possible so that the suffering of the people of the country could end at the earliest,” Minister Acharya said.
More than 40 people have died in the agitations launched by the Madhesis – the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal’s Terai region bordering India – and Tharu ethnic groups in southern plains, hitting hard normal life.
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