Kathmandu, February 7:

Political leaders today demanded the resignation of Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula to calm the Terai unrest and pave the way for peace talks between the government and the protesters in the Terai.

Sujata Koirala, an NC leader and member of the Legislature-Parliament, said: “The Home Minister should resign on moral grounds as many have lost their lives in the Terai unrest, which is disgraceful for the State and the party itself.”

Koirala was speaking at a programme in the capital on ‘Role of political parties to solve the Terai problem’.

She said that the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on February 1 had declared that the government will adopt a federal system. “Though the address was made with consent of all the other parties, some of the parties are criticising the address. We should work out details of the system after holding talks with all the parties. The details can be worked out only after the Constituent Assembly polls,” she said.

Sita Nandhan Raya, a representative of the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum and coordinator of the talk team formed to discuss the Terai unrest, also said the Home Minister should resign to create a conducive environment for talks.

Ram Janam Chaudhari, another member of the Legislature-Parliament, said: “The state and the eight parties should take immediate steps to resolve the Terai problem. If the issue is not addressed immediately, the members of the Parliament representing the Terai will not allow the Parliament to run smoothly tomorrow.”