Nepal

Demarcation of states debate on

Demarcation of states debate on

By Tika R Pradhan

KATHMANDU: After the two-day long marathon discussion on the restructuring of the states failed to sort out the outstanding disputes of the borders of the states, the UCPN Maoist Chairman Prachanda today proposed that the party's standing committee would come up with the solution after consulting with other parties and experts. In-charge of Limbuwan State Committee Narayan Prasad Sharma said discussion took place among the chiefs of the ethnic and regional fronts, in-charges of state committees, leaders of the ethnic movements and the party headquarters so as to forge consensus among the parties. Standing committee member Dev Gurung had tabled a proposal on restructuring the state comprising 13 states during the recent central committee meeting. "Dispute among the demarcation of the states was not taken as a big issue, though. We will rather try to forge consensus among the parties so as to make the decision more practical and scientific," he said.The meeting had also discussed that the three sub-states within the Madhes- Mithila, Awadh and Bhojpura -- should be considered as one state and therefore the Sherpa and Bhote-Lama could be incorporated in the 13 states proposed by the party. Though the issue of a separate Khasan state was on discussion since long, the meeting today didn't focus on it as Seti-Mahakali and Bheri-Karnali states could represent them. Prachanda told that the standing committee would sort out the states considering the feelings that were raised during the meeting, besides the facts and logics. "We will explain later the spirit on which we took the decisions," Sharma quoted Prachanda as saying. Limbuwan has been claiming the areas situated east of the Arun River while Kirant state is sought for in the areas up to Sankhuwasabha district.The meeting was attended by vice-chairmen Mohan Baidhya 'Kiran' and Narayan Kaji Shrestha 'Prakash', Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal', Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav'.