POKHARA: Minister of Home Affairs Shakti Basnet on Thursday held the Madhesi leaders responsible for the delay in the resolution of Madhes issues.

According to him, the government would take necessary steps at the earliest to resolve the Madhes issues even though the Madhesi leaders were staying away from dialogue and the country was pushed to witness a crisis.

Speaking at a press meet in Pokhara today, Minister Basnet, a Maoist leader, pointed out the need for formation of a federal commission to address the demands put forth by the agitating Madhesi parties.

He said the government has been flexible and waiting for the Madhesi parties to come for the talks.

Government is ready to resolve the issues of Tarai-Madhes through the amendments of Constitution without affecting the Nepali people’s aspirations, he said, adding that it was up to the Madhesi leaders whether to make the talks fruitful.

Saying some people were obstructing the highways due to their ulterior motives, the Home Minister warned that now the government would not spare the ones obstructing the highways now onwards.

“People of Himal, Pahad and Tarai are equal. The government cannot discriminate anybody,” he said, “Madhesi people also cannot blockade (border points) on the pretext of different problems.