Govt decides to adopt utmost flexibility in today's crucial talks with UDMF
KATHMANDU: The government has decided to adopt utmost flexibility for talks with the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF).
A meeting of the ruling coalition held this morning made the decision to this effect.
Emerging from the meeting, CPM-UML senior leader Jhalanath Khanal said that the government would adopt maximum flexibility for talks, but would not make any compromise on the national interests and sovereignty.
According to him, the government side would try to resolve the issues through peaceful and constitutional means.
Likewise, UCPN-Maoist Vice-Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said even if the two sides could not reach a conclusion in today's meeting continuity would be given to the talks.
Except saying the government side would take up utmost flexibility, the leaders, however, did not shed light on their take on the demarcation of the provincial boundaries, which has been the apple of discord for the Madhesi agitation and led to the ongoing obstruction of the Nepal-India border. A few days after the promulgation of new Constitution on September 20, the Madhesi parties resorted to the blockade of major customs entry point with an intent to exert pressure on the mainstream parties and the government to concede to their demands.
The government and UDMF talks team are scheduled to hold formal talks, which the UDMF has projected as decisive, at the central office of the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal at 1 pm today.
Earlier on Saturday, leaders of the UDMF had warned that they would quit talks with the government if the dialogue slated for today did not yield positive results.
The UDMF has been protesting for more than two months in various parts of the Tarai region demanding amendments in the Constitution including the issue of provincial boundaries.
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