Kathmandu, December 10

The United Democratic Madhesi Front rejected the three major parties’ proposal to allow the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill and settle the question of provincial boundaries within three months through a political mechanism.

The UDMF rejected the offer of the ruling and principal opposition parties in a meeting held here today attended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and top leaders of the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, the Unified CPN-Maoist and the UDMF.

Chairperson of Federal Socialist Front-Nepal Upendra Yadav said they told the ruling and principal opposition parties that they would end their agitation only when the major parties would address their 11-point demands. “We told the leaders of the ruling parties and principal opposition party that we will not accept any piecemeal solution,” Yadav said.

Senior leader of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal Ram Naresh Ray said the major parties asked the front leaders to accept the three-point proposal to pass Constitution Amendment Bill registered at Parliament by Sushil Koirala-led government and settle the question of provincial boundaries within three months through a political mechanism but the front leaders rejected their proposal.

UDMF leaders told the major parties that their obstruction of House proceedings and their agitation, including the border blockade, would continue.

Ray said Oli told UDMF leaders that the three major parties would hold discussions tomorrow morning and probably hold another meeting with the UDMF the same day.

Ray stated that the PM showed willingness to hold talks soon but today’s talks could not be termed positive. “Unless the major parties show flexibility to address our concerns, we cannot say that the talks are positive.

We gave the 11-point demands to the major parties long time ago but they are yet to come up with a common stance vis-à-vis our demands,” Ray added.

UDMF leaders Upendra Yadav, Laxman Lal Karna and Ram Naresh Ray were among those who attended the meeting held with NC leaders Ramchandra Paudel, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prakash Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Ram Sharan Mahat and Prime Minister Oli, senior CPN-UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal, Bhim Rawal, Minister of Law and Justice Agni Kharel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa.