KATHMANDU: Chairman of Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) Mahantha Thakur said the relevance of talks between the government and agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) was not over.

Though the government-UDMF talks have confronted some slowness after the Birgunj incident, the UDMF has never walked out of the talks, said leader Thakur whose party is also the member of UDMF.

Talking to media persons at Janakpur today, he said they were ready to sit for talks with the government if it wanted so. "But the responsibility of creating atmosphere conducive for talks lies on the government."

He further insisted on the participation of Nepali Congress in the government-UDMF talks to take it to a logical conclusion, claiming that the Madhes agitation was for the rights of the people there.