Kathmandu, March 29:

The government’s effort to hold talks with four armed groups failed as the latter refused to give up their demand for the release of their cadres as a precondition for talks.

“Now the talks are uncertain, what they really want is not clear,” Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel told this daily.

Last week, the government had invited Samyukta Jantantrik Mukti Morcha (SJTMM) coordinated by Pawan, Jantantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) led by Rajan Mukti, Madhes Mukti Tigers (MMT) led by Rajan and Tarai Cobra led by Nagraj for talks. The armed groups had also sent a reply to the government agreeing for the talks.

Poudel blamed the four groups for aborting the dialogue process on the pretext of the release of political prisoners.

“We asked them to give the names of their comrades to be released, but they failed to do so,” he said, adding if the armed groups really cared for people’s right, they should come to the negotiating table and pave the way for peaceful CA polls.

But the four groups continue to blame the government for the deadlock. “Our ultimatum passed without any progress, so now we are hell-bent on disrupting the CA polls. There is no possibility of talks with the government at this stage,” said Avinash Mukti, the Dhanusha district in-charge of the JTMM.

The four-armed groups had given an ultimatum of 3 pm today to release their cadres or else they would resort to violence.

“We had already sent the names of our cadres to be freed, but the government is denying it.” Mukti said.

“We did not ask for the release of all of our cadres at present, but a few of them so that an atmosphere conducive for dialogue could be created,”

Mukti said over the phone.

He threatened that his party would take physical action against the candidates, their supporters and associates in the run-up-to the polls.

Poudel said the government was also trying to hold talks with Akhil Tarai Mukti Morcha led by Jay Krishna Goit and Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha led by Jwala Singh.

“We are trying to establish contact with them through intermediaries,” Poudel said, adding that the government was committed to bring them into the mainstream.