The intention of the government is to defuse our movement by provoking communal clashes among Madhesis and Pahadis . But we’ll continue our struggle unless we get our rightful share

Kathmandu, November 27

With both ruling CPN-UML and agitating parties refusing to become flexible on their stances regarding provincial boundaries, there is a deadlock of sorts in the dialogue process.

Although the ruling parties had said that they would form their common stance vis-a-vis United Democratic Madhesi Front’s 11-point demand, the ruling parties have not been able to do that.

People are gradually getting frustrated with increasing difficulty to run their livelihood due to the scarcity of fuel, cooking gas, cooking oil and other essential supplies.

But leaders have been blaming each other for the delay in resuming talks to resolve the existing multi-dimensional crises.

Chairman of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav accused the ruling coalition of running away from the talks. He said major parties were to prepare their common stance on the demands of the UDMF but now they were avoiding talks in the name of doing groundwork for talks.

Yadav said the government did not want to give rights to Madhesi, Janajati and other marginalised communities.

“The intention of the government is to defuse our movement by provoking communal clashes among Madhesis and Pahadis (people of hilly origin). But we will continue our struggle unless we get our rightful share,” he claimed.

He added that the government never seemed to be serious on resolving the issues raised by the UDMF since the very beginning.

On the other hand, UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai blamed UDMF for the current deadlock. “Madhesi leaders do not want results through talks and they have malafide intention,” he said, adding that was the reason behind the delay.

Unified CPN-Maoist Vice-Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the current deadlock was the result of arrogance from both the major parties and the agitating UDMF.

“Major parties won’t budge from their stance of resolving the issue of demarcation through a political committee, while UDMF refused to accept that proposal and has been demanding changes in demarcation right away,” Shrestha said.

He, however, said his party was for resolving the problem even by making necessary changes in demarcation to resolve the crisis resulting from the shortage of essential supplies.

However, main opposition party Nepali Congress spokesperson Dilendra Badu said his party President Sushil Koirala had already announced to take the initiative to resolve the problem soon.

He said party’s office bearers and senior members would come up with a plan to resolve the problem tomorrow after briefing Koirala, who has just returned home from US about the latest developments. Koirala held an informal meeting with three Tarai Madhes Democratic Party leaders, including Chairman Mahantha Thakur.

According to TMDP spokesperson Sarvendra Nath Shukla, former PM Koirala said he was ready to do whatever necessary to solve Tarai unrest, while Thakur said the two issues – proportional inclusion and delineation of the election constituencies on the basis of population – alone would not be sufficient to resolve the crisis.

Shukla added that Thakur told Koirala that situation in Tarai was grave and without addressing the question of boundaries resolution of the problem was not possible.