The agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), during previous talks, sought the government's concrete proposal to review the provincial boundary delineation proposed in the new constitution. With the government failing to bring such a proposal, the agitating side declined to discuss other issues.
"Correcting the provincial boundary is our main demand, but the government appeared unprepared and the talks could not move ahead," said Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhawana Party.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, the government talks team proposed solving the delineation issue either by entrusting it to a commission or waiting until a broader political understanding was reached.
"Their demand was immediate resolution of the boundary dispute, which is a difficult proposition as it took eight years to finalize the present boundary," said Thapa. "We proposed various options but they rejected this."
The government team has also urged the agitating parties to halt their protests on the Nepal-India border, which has been cited by India for its unofficial blockade of petroleum products and other essential goods.
During the talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UDMF leaders said that they will not sit for talks again unless the government comes with a concrete proposal on provincial boundary. "The talks may fail if the government team does not come with a concrete proposal at the next sitting," said Karna. The next talks are scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Before the next sitting, UDMF has scheduled a meeting of its own in Janakpur on Saturday. According to front leaders, the meeting is to discuss further protest programs. The agitating parties have been demanding that there should be only two provinces in the plains.
Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Agni Kharel said that the government has addressed almost all the demands of the agitating parties as a condition for fostering an environment for talks.
Related story
Sept 24: Republica Morning Brief
