Kathmandu, December 5

After the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front rejected the three-point proposal put forth by the three major parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist — today’s talks ended inconclusively.

UDMF leaders had rejected the three-party proposal saying it was vague, did not address the UDMF’s 11-point demand and also the government had not made any progress in creating conducive environment for talks by implementing its promises.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had put forth the three-point proposal in writing and requested the agitating parties to come to a compromise and reach agreement today itself. However, UDMF leaders rejected the proposal, said UCPN-M leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Oli had requested UDMF leaders to end the blockade at the Nepal-India border points and support the government to pass bills related to reconstruction authority and the constitution amendment bill, according to Shrestha.

The agitating leaders urged the government to create environment for talks by withdrawing lawsuits against protesters, providing treatment to those injured in the protests and ending suppression of the movement, according to NC leader Ramesh Lekhak.

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• Some Madhesi leaders on their way to New Delhi

“Both sides urged each other to create conducive environment for meaningful talks and to come up with more homework for the next round of talks,” Lekhak said.

Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna said the three-point proposal could not address the 11-point demand of the UDMF and the proposal had nothing other than what the big III had previously been saying.

“The constitution amendment bill registered by NC-led government does not address our concerns and it is not sufficient to resolve our problems. The bill has not even accepted the provisions made in the previous Interim Constitution,” Karna said.

Today’s talks concluded with an understanding that the next round of talks would be held with more homework.

The date and time of talks are be scheduled for later in consultation with both sides, according to Lekhak.

Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal leader Upendra Yadav were present at the talk,s while Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party leader Mahendra Yadav were not present but had assigned their second-rung leaders to attend the talks.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal also did not show up at the meeting due to illness, according to Shrestha.

The three major parties had yesterday reached a three-point agreement for addressing the concerns of agitating Madhes-based parties. They will move ahead with the constitution amendment bill registered by the NC-led government seeking to ensure proportional inclusion and delimitation of election constituencies on the basis of population. The big III agreed to make a constitutional provision for provincial boundaries through political consensus and discussion, for which, a political committee will be formed to finalise the issue within three months. With these, they had urged the agitating parties to withdraw their agitation.