Kathmandu, January 10

Major issues of the agitating Madhesi parties, except the one relating to provincial boundaries, can still be addressed through the first amendment of the new constitution, said Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya, one of the negotiators, while briefing on the ongoing talks with Madhes-based parties at the party’s Central Working Committee meeting today.

There is still room for incorporating major issues of the agitating parties, except the boundary issue, through a special committee to be formed by Speaker to manage amendment proposals filed by various lawmakers, Acharya told at the CWC meeting held at the party headquarters in Sanepa, according to CWC member Badri Prasad Pande.

As 24 amendment proposals over the Bill on First Amendment of Constitution of Nepal have been registered in the House by various lawmakers, the concerns of the United Democratic Madhesi Front can be addressed through the proposals, Acharya told the CWC meeting.

Settling the issue of provincial boundaries may not be possible before the NC’s National General Convention scheduled for March 3-6, said Acharya.

NC Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel had briefed the meeting on his recent India visit and talks held with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The Indian minister expressed concern about the progress on constitution amendment and expressed her confidence that the ongoing Tarai unrest would end after constitution amendment, Paudel told the meeting, according to Pande.

Meanwhile, the NC’s CWC endorsed its election directives for its 13th National General Convention.

Also the meeting congratulated the previous NC-led government and then Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat for winning the Global and Asia-Pacific Finance Minister of the Year 2016 Award.

The award was extended last week by The Banker, a premier monthly magazine on global finance published by the renowned Financial Times Group of the UK, for Mahat’s exemplary work in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquakes that hit Nepal in April and May, and pushing for reforms to improve governance in the finance ministry.