Janakpurdham, January 5:

The Jwala Singh-led Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), which is waging an armed conflict to demand a separate state in the Terai region, is ready for talks with the government.

A statement issued today by JTMM chairman Singh said the JTMM was ready to sit for talks with the government keeping in view the calls from human rights activists, politicians, journalists and members of the civil society.

The JTMM has forwarded some conditions for talks, including declaring the Terai region a free and separate state, announcing constituencies according to population and using the revenue collected from Terai region for its development.

The statement demands that the Madhesi people killed by the state and the Maoists during the insurgency be declared martyrs and their families provided Rs 1.5 million as compensation each. It adds that the government should ensure the return of Madhesi people’s land captured by the Maoists.

“The JTMM is ready for talks in the presence of the United Nations if the eight parties commit to meet our demands,” the statement adds.