Kathmandu, February 5

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Chair of Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal talked to Sadbhawana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato over phone and urged him to return to the capital.

Mahato said the PM told him to find a solution to the current stand-off through negotiation and he had told the PM that United Democratic Madhesi Front was ready to find a negotiated settlement of Madhes issues, but the government was not serious about talks.

Mahato said the PM also wanted to know his views about ending the current blockade at the Birgunj-Raxaul border entry point and that he had told the PM he would move a proposal at the next meeting of the UDMF either to block all the border entry points or not block any of them.

Mahato said he told the PM the blockade at the Birgunj-Raxaul border entry point alone was not enough to mount pressure on him and therefore, the UDMF should either enforce blockade at all the border entry points and if this could not be done at this stage then it should conserve its power so as to enforce blockade on all the border entry points later.

In response to PM Oli’s offer of talks, Mahato said the question of provincial boundaries was the major issue and it would be resolved if the major parties sincerely tried to settle the boundary issues.

According to a press release issued by Sadbhawana Party, Dahal thanked Mahato ‘for helping end the blockade at the Birgunj-Raxaul border entry point.’

“We want you to come to Kathmandu soon. We should jointly make effort to end the current standoff,” Sadbhawana Party quoted Dahal as telling Mahato.

Mahato said he would hold talks with them only if they expressed sincere commitment to find a negotiated settlement of all the issues, including the issue of provincial boundary.

“We are ready to revise provincial boundaries. We want you to come to Kathmandu,” the SP quoted Dahal as telling Mahato.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also called Mahato and jokingly asked him why he loved Biratnagar so much. A smiling Mahato retorted, “You say you won’t give Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari to a Madhes province and I am here to make these districts a part of Madhes province.”

The release said PM Oli thanked Mahato ‘for lifting the blockade.’

“The blockade led to black-marketing. You did a good job by lifting the blockade,” the release quoted the PM as telling Mahato. The PM urged Mahato to seek negotiated settlement of the Madhes issue and stated that he was positive about revising provincial boundaries.

Mahato told the PM that he should play his role to ensure a win-win solution for all sides. “I am sure that the issues will be resolved through negotiation provided you are committed to our agendas,” the SP quoted Mahato as telling the PM.

The PM told Mahato that many things had become complicated due to his fiery speech and he better maintain restraint. On his part, Mahato told the PM that he was in the role of a guardian now and he should play the same role at the negotiating table.