• Formal talks with Federal Alliance to be held today

Kathmandu, October 29 The government has intensified homework to bring the constitution amendment bill by next week. Formal talks between the ruling parties and agitating Federal Alliance are scheduled for 4:00pm tomorrow, according to Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna. A meeting of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Deputy Prime Ministers Bimalendra Nidhi and Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party leader Mahantha Thakur, Sadbhawana Party leader Karna and Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal leader Rajendra Shrestha held at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar this evening arranged tomorrow’s meeting. The ruling parties say the proposed adjustment might create a situation wherein the agitating Madhes-based parties will participate in the elections with their demand of including the five disputed districts in the Tarai provinces, said NC and CPN-MC sources. Madhes-based parties, however, have put forth two alternative proposals: Split the five districts and include plains in the Tarai provinces and hilly parts in hilly provinces; and mandate the federal commission, to be formed for altering the boundaries of the five districts with the principle of incorporating the plains in Tarai provinces, said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato. “At least there should be some basis that assures us that the dispute regarding the five districts will be settled. Although we had been demanding inclusion of the five districts in the Tarai provinces, we are ready to split the plains of those districts and incorporate them in Tarai provinces. It can be done either through a political agreement or from the federal commission,” Mahato said. CPN-Maoist Centre’s leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that attempts were under way to find a compromise on the dispute related to the five districts and bring the constitution amendment bill on four issues — boundaries of federal units, recognition of dominant languages as official language in the provinces, citizenship certificate and representation in National Assembly, on the basis of population. Including the plain region from Nawalparasi to Bardiya in Tarai province was an early proposal made by Nepali Congress and CPN-UML in the Constituent Assembly, said Shrestha, adding, “However, the major concern of the agitating parties remains the adjustment of boundaries of the five districts — Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur”. If things go as expected, the government will bring the constitution amendment bill before Chhath festival by next week, said PM Dahal’s press adviser Govinda Acharya. Although the NC and CPN-MC are engaged with the agitating Madhes-based parties, they are yet to make the CPN-UML agree on constitution amendment. “No concrete consultation has been held with the CPN-UML regarding constitution amendment. We have asked the government to bring the proposal. We will respond only after seeing it,” said UML leader Agni Kharel. FA has been saying it will launch fresh agitation after Chhath if the government fails to bring the constitution amendment bill as promised by the PM.