The Tharu leaders set forth some conditions before the top leaders for entering into the major agenda item related to the provincial delineation.
They demanded that the government withdraw the cases filed at courts against their cadres on charges of being involved in violent protests, declare those protestors who died during recent protests as martyrs, provide compensation to the families of the deceased and provide free treatment to the injured protestors.
Currently, the govenrment has filed murder charges against 22 protestors in connection with the August 24 Kailali killings.
"We can enter into the issue of delineation only after the government creates a conducive environment by fulfilling the aforementioned demands," Constituent Assembly (CA) member Aman Lal Modi, who is also spokesman of the committee, told Republica. "The top leaders gave positive response to our conditions."
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who is also the president of Nepali Congress, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and CPN-UML's senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal were present at the talks.
According to Modi, the top leaders promised to contact them again after discussing the Tharu leaders' conditions among the leaders of the major parties.
The Tharu leaders had earlier said that they would sit for dialogue only if the three top leaders participated in the talks. However, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli didn't attend the meeting citing some unavoidable circumstances.
"All the three leaders -- Koirala, Nepal and Dahal -- responded positively saying that the Tharu community's grievances were genuine and they also discussed sensitivity of the issues raised by us," said Modi.
The Tharu representatives also informed the leaders that they will give continuity to their peaceful protests such as burning of the copies of new constitution once it is promulgated.
Raj Kumar Lekhi, one of the 12 representatives participating in the talks, however left Baluwatar in the middle of the meeting saying that he wouldn't attend the talks as one of the top three leaders, Oli, remained absent. Tharu leaders had earlier clearly said that they would sit for talks only with the chiefs of three major political parties.
"I walked out from the meeting as UML Chairman Oli didn't attend against their commitment," said Lekhi.
Big 3 in talks with Gachchhadar
Meanwhile, following talks with the Tharu leaders, top leaders of the big three parties including K P Oli are holding talks with Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar. Gachchhadar has been demanding a separate Tharu province.
Related story
Within a decade, first Tharu museum in ruins
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
