Kathmandu, April 17

Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who also heads the High-Level Political Coordination Committee to oversee the activities of the CPN-UML-led coalition government, is preparing to hold talks with agitating Madhesi parties.

While addressing different functions outside Kathmandu, Dahal had said he would take the lead in resolving issues raised by Madhesi parties as soon as he returned to the Capital.

UCPN-M General Secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahara said since the government was not taking interest in bringing the agitating Madhesi parties on board through talks, Dahal was taking the initiative.

“Though there has been no official decision Chairman Dahal has been taking the initiative to resolve the outstanding Madhesi issues through dialogue,” Mahara said, adding that the rigid stance of the UML had prevented an agreement with the agitating parties even though both NC and UCPN-M had shown maximum flexibility about resolving the issues.

Today, during his meeting with senior Nepali Congress leader Ramchandra Paudel, Dahal stressed the need of a working alliance among major parties to address the dissatisfactions of Madhesi parties.

Dahal’s personal secretary Jokh Bahadur Mahara said the ground was been prepared grounds for talks by consulting leaders of major parties and today’s meeting with Paudel was a part of his initiative.

Madhes-based UCPN-M leader Biswonath Sah said there was no alternative to talks to resolve issues raised by Madhesi parties and his party could play the role of mediator as it was close to them on many Madhesi agendas.

The recently concluded Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML also decided to call the agitating Madhesi parties for dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.

The party has also urged the government to withdraw all political cases against agitators of the United Democratic Madhesi Front and create an environment for talks.

Nepali Congress leader and former member of the talks team Mahesh Acharya expressed serious concern about the indifference shown by the government towards bringing the agitating parties to the talks table.

Following his election as leader of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party, Sher Bahadur Deuba has been saying that the Nepali Congress will now take the lead in resolving the concerns of the agitating UDMF.

Leader of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Ram Naresh Raya said UDMF will be launching a national level movement from the national gathering scheduled for tomorrow with 17 different forces, including indigenous nationalities.

He said UDMF was always ready for fruitful talks, but added that the movement would also continued side by side as the front had waited for a long time and had even changed its mode of agitation.

Deuba for addressing demands

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today discussed with the chiefs of the constituents of United Democratic Madhesi Front how the agitating forces’ demands could be addressed.

NC leaders Ramchandra Paudel, Bimalendra Nidhi, Mahesh Acharya and Sita Devi Yadav were present at the meeting, which was attended by UDMF leaders Mahantha Thakur, Upendra Yadav, Rajendra Mahato, Sharat Singh Bhandari, Mahendra Ray Yadav and Anil Kumar Jha.

According to Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chair Anil Kumar Jha, Deuba said he was in

favour of implementing the constitution by addressing the demands of agitating

forces. Deuba also told the Madhesi leaders that this government should be flexible in this regard.

According to Jha, the Madhesi leaders told Deuba that since his was the largest party in Parliament, NC should help address the demands of the agitating forces by amending the constitution.

Deuba told the Madhesi leaders that dialogue should continue between the major parties and the UDMF and he would intensify talks after he returned from his India visit. Deuba is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow.