UDMF demands withdrawal of land legalization decision

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: The ruling United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has demanded that the government withdraw the cabinet´s decision to legalize the land transactions carried out by the then Maoist´s "people´s government" during the insurgency.



"We concluded that the government must withdraw the cabinet´s decision to legalize conflict-era property deals," Vice-chairman of Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TDMP) Brikhesh Chandra Lal told Republica after a UDMF meeting on Sunday.[break]



The Madhesi alliance made the demand the same day Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai assured the opposition parties of keeping on hold the cabinet decision in view of the Supreme Court stay order and opposition from major parties.



According to Lal, the Madhesi leaders were of the view that such a decision does not conform to the existing laws.



"We get the cabinet proposals only two-three hours earlier these days while we are supposed to get them 24 hours prior to the cabinet meeting," a source quoted Information and Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta as saying at the meeting.



Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hridayesh Tripathi told the UDMF leaders that he had objected when the proposal to legalize land deals was tabled in the cabinet.

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