Call for talks with Madhesi political groups

Kathmandu, July 27:

Calling for talks with Madhesi political outfits, leaders of major political parties today urged the government to take administrative measures to control criminal acts in the Tarai. They called on the government not to hold talks with the groups that are talking about the country’s disintegration.

“The Tarai issue can be resolved by adopting a proportional representational system in constituent assembly elections and ensuring inclusion of the Madhesi community in state organs,” CPN-UML central committee member Pradip Gyawali said at the Reporters’ Club. Some of the Madhesi groups have raised arms to expand political space while the others seem to be purely criminals, he said, adding that the criminal groups should be isolated from society through political campaigns.

He urged the political parties to launch political campaigns in the Tarai to create a favourable environment for the elections. He also warned that differences between the Nepali Congress and the Maoists over the integration of the Maoist army and Maoists’ distrust towards the Nepali Army can derail the peace process.

Senior Maoist leader CP Gajurel said that the Maoists’ central committee meeting, which will be held soon, will seriously discuss whether the party should continue to remain in the government. “The king’s birthday bash, sending of security guards from the Bhiravnath battalion for the protection of Maoist ministers and violence unleashed in the Tarai with a view to disrupting the CA elections indicate that the royalists are preparing for another coup.” He said that talks are not possible with the armed groups who intend to disintegrate the country.

Chief of the foreign affairs department of the Nepali Congress Sujata Koirala warned that the country will plunge into a civil and ethnic war if the CA elections are not held in November.

She suggested holding talks with the Bihar and UP governments of India to control cross-border crimes. She said that ceasefire must be declared by the government and the armed groups.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato said that the CA polls might not be held without addressing the Madhesi issues — federal system of governance and proportional representation of the Madhesis in all organs of the state.

Vice president of the NC-D Gopal Man Shrestha, however, said that the government had addressed most of the issues raised by the Madhesis.