Jhapa, December 30

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Management Minister Agni Kharel today said the government would not be ready to review the proposed provincial boundary as demanded by the agitating madhes-based forces until the blockade at Nepal-India border points continued.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Press Chautari in Birtamode of Jhapa, Kharel ruled out the possibility of reviewing federal delineation until the agitating force forges consensus by lifting the blockade at the border. He also urged the UDMF to change the modality of agitation.

Kharel, who is also chief whip of CPN-UML, said that people of Tarai districts were hit the hardest due to the four-month long general strike.

He urged the agitating force to halt their programme and move ahead with the aim of dealing with the issues they wanted addressed honestly and at the earliest. He also underscored the need to maintain close ties with both the neighbours.