Earlier the dispute was only over five districts of Tarai but now it is over 15 districts

Kathmandu, August 31

As agitation against the draft constitution, particularly the boundaries of the federal units, spread from the Tarai to the hills today, political leaders and social activists want the government and the protesting parties to hold talks without any further delay.

Columnist CK Lal said there were standard principles for holding dialogue, such as restoring status quo ante by withdrawing the security forces, forming a dialogue team, fixing terms of reference for negotiation and getting the highest authority directly address the rebel side. But the government has not completed any of these procedures.

He said the ball was still in the government’s court and it was wrongly blaming the protesting parties for not coming to the negotiating table.

General Secretary of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Sarvendranath Shukla said the Madhesi forces wanted to hold a meaningful dialogue but they could not sit for talks when their supporters continue to be victimised by the security forces. “In the Tarai, security deteriorated only in those areas where police didn’t exercise restraint,” he said and added that the government should be ready to withdraw security forces, gradually reduce the number of prohibited zones and limit the area of prohibited zones only to district administration offices and district police offices.

“There is a crisis of confidence between the government and the protesting parties because when the ruling parties presented their blueprint of federalism to the thematic committee of the CA on November 3, the dispute was only over five districts of Tarai but now it is over 15 districts,” he said.

NC leader Anand Prasad Dhungana, however, said the PM sent invites to the protesting parties twice, so the ball was in the protesting parties’ court. When asked about the protesting parties’ demand for withdrawal of the Nepali Army from Tarai districts, Dhungana said, “Tension automatically reduces when two sides sit for talks.” He said the protesting parties should also think of postponing their protest. “Protesting parties are free to resort to the protest again if dialogue does not yield any solution,” he added.

Columnist Dambar Khatiwoda said Madhesi parties did not need to be rigid about the condition for talks. “It is always the government’s responsibility to treat the injured protesters and give compensation to victims. When talks happen, arrested protesters are also released. I do not think Madhesi parties should be too rigid about these things. The rest they should seek to resolve through dialogue,” he added. Khatiwoda said the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML needed to initiate dialogue with the protesting parties and they should not think of promulgating a new constitution without winning the confidence of the Madhesi forces.

“Madhes movement is part of the latest democratic movement. Madhesi forces lost some seats in last CA election, but that does not mean that their grievances should not be addressed,” he said and added three provinces in Madhes with Chure range could be the best solution.