Fourteen demands forwarded

Kathmandu, May 22:

The three-member government talks team led by minister Ram Chandra Poudel today held talks with the team of Nepal Backward Classes Federation at the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry.

“We have put forth 14 demands among which three are major ones and conditions for contunuing the talks,” the coordinator of the Federation’s team, Bharat Prasad Mahato, said.

Mahato said the government team has assured the federation that it will study the conditions.

The three conditions are that the government establish an academy for the backward classes and issue an annex of their communities — the federation claims to have already prepared one — broadcast news on Magahi language through Radio Nepal and form a commission to establish a Federal Loktantrik Republican Madhesh with the right to self determination.

Their other demands include proportionate representation in the interim parliament, the interim government and 33 per cent reservation in all the sectors.

Minister Poudel said the federation has demanded that the government recognise the separate identity of a large number of Tarai people who do not fall either in the Dalit or Janajati communities.Asked about the three conditions, Poudel said the government will study the demands and hold discussions with the federation.