Three-member committee mandated to hold decisive talks with disgruntled parties

KATHMANDU, Oct 1: A three-member Committee, formed on 28 September upon the decision of the three major political parties to resolve the ongoing political unrest in various districts in the Tarai regions through political means, has been given additional mandate on Thursday.

A meeting of top leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar in capital city mandated the committee to hold decisive talks with leaders of dissenting Madhes-centric parties who have been waging agitation in protest of state delineation in the newly promulgated constitution.


Emerging from the meeting, NC Vice-President, Ram Chandra Poudel shared so.

Furthermore, leader Poudel informed that the committee today, briefed them about the progresses achieved so far in connection to the talks held with the leaders of Democratic Madhesi Front, United Democratic Madhesi Front, among other agitating parties as well as about issues raised by them.

The Committee comprises Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation, Mahesh Acharya from the NC, Chief Whip of CPN-UML, Agni Kharel and Narayan Kaji Shrestha from UCPN (Maoist).

The Committee, which has already held three rounds of talks with these leaders, is likely to hold separate talks with them today itself, according to Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Shrestha asserted that talks with the Mahantha Thakur, Chairperson of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party, Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Chairperson of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) and other Tharu leaders had reached a final stage.

Similarly, responding to the journalists' query related to the additional mandate, UCPN (Maoist) Chairperson, Pushpa Kamal Dahal said, "The additional mandate features determining the constituency on the basis of population and delineating the provinces that are described in the new constitution."

"The issues of the dissenting sides will be addressed through the amendment of the new constitution," added Dahal, casting a positive tone.

Three major parties' qualm over demonstration in no man's land

The meeting of top leaders of the major political parties today decided to request the government of India to curb the demonstration and sit-in protest being staged by the disgruntled Madhesi leaders in the no man's land, arguing that such places are prohibited area for demonstrations.

According to CPN-UML Vice-Chairperson Vidya Bhandari, the three major parties' leaders have also expressed qualm over the demonstration.

"The meeting also dwelt on urging India through political and diplomatic means to put an end to such demonstrations," added leader Bhandari.

The meeting has further decided to ease the supply of petroleum products and other essential goods as the undeclared border blockade by Indian sides has badly affected the normal life. The NC Vice-president Poudel informed that the meeting has urged the government to take alternate measures to ease the supplies.

Preliminary discussions on formation of new government begins

The meeting further held discussions on the first meeting of the Legislature-Parliament after the promulgation of the new constitution.

Leader Poudel added that the senior leaders discussed about the new regulations on election process prepared by the Legislature-Parliament.

The meeting of the Legislature-Parliament on Friday would begin the election process for the post of President, Vice-president, Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Following the meeting, UCPN (Maoist) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that there was no alternate of consensus government for the implementation of the new constitution.

He added that consensus, co-work and unity among the political parties should be kept for long time. Chair Dahal added that the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal would also participate in the consensus government as it was the fourth biggest parties.

He further added that the new government formation process would not consume long time as the modality about it was discussed in the 16-point agreement signed by major parties.

NC President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Vice-president Poudel, CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli, vice-chair duo Vidya Bhandari, Bhim Rawal, UCPN (Maoist) chair Dahal, Vice-chair Shrestha had participated in the meeting. RSS

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