Pokhara, December 21

Information and Communications Minister Sherdhan Rai today said that the government is keen to end the Madhes crisis through talks, at the earliest.

“State delineation is not a big thing and can be settled through statute amendment, and the government is also willing to sit for decisive talks to address the demands of the agitators as soon as possible,” said the minister, addressing the fifth anniversary of Safalta FM Pokhara today.

Also describing the recently drafted democratic republic constitution as a major achievement of the people and the country, Rai conveyed the government’s commitment to preserve and implement the constitution at all costs.

“The constitution is drafted by the people’s representatives through the consent of the majority.

There could be some feeble voices of protest, and it’s natural as well, but shutting down the bazaars, obstructing vehicles along the highways and holding sit-ins at the entry points won’t resolve the problem in the Madhes,” the minister argued.

He urged the dissenting Madhes-based parties ato get their demands addressed through talks and the legitimate way of statute amendment.

Dwelling on the emergence of a serious humanitarian crisis in the country due to the blockade, Rai said, “Nepal is a sovereign countryand it forever will be; attempts to make it bow down will be unacceptable.”

Further, he informed about the government’s plan to expedite post-earthquake reconstruction after settling the constitution-related disputes.

He also revealed the government’s policy to link every nook and cranny of the country through technology and telecommunications in the near future.