Key Takeaways:
- Second round of talks ended without agreement; third round expected
- Cabinet ordered immediate implementation of past commission reports
- Protesters insist on written agreement before suspending Justice March
A second round of talks between Home Minister Sudan Gurung and victims of illegal loan sharking (meter byaj) ended without a breakthrough on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to resume negotiations after the government finalises its position on the victims' six-point charter of demands.
The five-hour meeting concluded with an understanding that a third round of talks would be held after decisions taken at the federal level are communicated to both sides. According to sources, the next round of negotiations between the Home Minister and leaders of the anti-meter loan movement is expected on Wednesday.
Later on Tuesday, the Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers decided that the Ministry of Home Affairs should immediately implement the recommendations of commissions previously formed by the government to address illegal lending (meter byaj). Government spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports Sasmita Pokharel announced the decision after the meeting.
The Cabinet decision came after Home Minister Gurung, during the talks in Nijgadh, instructed the Home Ministry to immediately make public the reports of three earlier commissions formed to study the loan sharking problem. These include the commissions led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, Tej Bahadur Karki and Baburam Regmi.
Both the government and the protesters agreed to undertake further homework on their respective proposals before the next round of discussions.
The victims, who began their "Justice March" from Janakpurdham to Kathmandu on July 10, submitted a six-point memorandum demanding the annulment of fraudulent loan documents, a special law and commission to tackle loan sharking, investigation into the assets of alleged loan sharks, restoration of properties seized from victims, and measures to ensure fair financial transactions.
Avadhesh Kushwaha, coordinator of the Meter Loan Victims' Movement Committee, said the protest would not be suspended without a written agreement with the government.
"If no written agreement is reached on our demands, the Justice March will resume towards Kathmandu," he said.
Home Minister Gurung, who travelled to Nijgadh earlier in the day to meet the protesters, said he was prepared to remain in Bara for several days if necessary to help resolve the issue.
He said the issue required coordination not only with the Home Ministry but also with the ministries responsible for land management, finance and other agencies, as well as legal reforms. Officials said the minister remained in contact with ministers and senior bureaucrats of the concerned ministries throughout the discussions.