Talks sans deal on provinces pointless, says Yadav

Rajbiraj, October 29

Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav today said there was no point in the United Democratic Madhesi Front holding talks with the government until the latter agreed to redraw provincial boundaries.

Speaking at a press meet in Rajbiraj, Yadav accused the government of staging a farce so far in the name of talks. “We are not prolonging the agitation by choice. It is a compulsion created by the state,” said Yadav. He also said that implementation of the eight and 22-point agreements reached with the Madhes-based parties in the past would be the only solution to the Madhes agitation.

Further, Yadav warned that if the government continued to be indifferent to towards the Madhes agitation, the UDMF would intensify its protest from the streets. He informed that a UDMF meet scheduled to be held in Janakpur in a couple of days would decide on more stringent protests. On Nepal’s ties with China and India, Yadav said it was wrong to play one neighbor against the other. He, however, added that business with northern neighbor would not be durable. “There is no market for Nepali goods in China,” Yadav added.

He warned that severing ties with India would affect Nepal’s long-term goals. “No other country can have good relations with Nepal except India,” said Yadav.