KATHMANDU, July 29

Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur on Wednesday met the leaders of four parties — the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Unified CPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic.

According to UCPN-M leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha the leaders of the four parties told Thakur that they had all compromised to seal the 16-point agreement and that Madhesis should also join the current constitution- making process.

The leaders of the four parties, which signed the16-point deal on June 8, also told Thakur that they signed the 16-point agreement so that they could deliver the constitution which could end political transition and pave the way for development.

“You have already stated in the 16-point agreement what you want to do and you have already decided what you want to do next,” Shrestha quoted Thakur as telling the four parties.

According to Shrestha, Thakur said Madhesis needed a new constitution more than anybody else did and that constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front would carefully watch if their concerns were addressed in the new constitution or not.

A leader associated with the another constituent of the UDMF said on condition of anonymity that Thakur met the leaders of the four parties in capacity of the chairman of his party and that he did not represent the front. “Holding talks with the four parties is meaningless. It would have been better had Thakur not met the leaders of the four parties,” he added.

Meanwhile, CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidhya and Secretary Dev Gurung also met Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and said that their party was opposed to the draft as it violated the ‘spirit of people’s war’ and various movements, including Madhes movement, according to a press release issued by the party.