Team mooted to study UDMF demands

Kathmandu, December 26

The main opposition party Nepali Congress and one of the partners in the coalition government Unified CPN-Maoist today agreed with the agitating Madhesi parties to form a small team to study ways to address their demands.

According to Manish Suman, General Secretary of Sadbhawana Party, both NC and UCPN-M are ready to form a small team to prepare ways to address the 11-point demand of the United Democratic Madhesi Front and to look into the language of the amendment bill.

During talks held at the Maharajgunj-based residence of NC President Sushil Koirala today, both NC and UCPN-M had expressed commitment to make changes in the demarcation of provinces.

NC spokesperson Dilendra Badu said talks would not be necessary if the parties were not prepared to discuss the major demand of the UDMF – demarcation of provinces.

However, the issue needs to be approved by the CPN-UML that leads the incumbent government.

Suman also said though both NC and UCPN-M agreed to form a team and postpone the Parliament meeting of Sunday that needed UML approval.

Earlier today, top leaders of NC and UCPN-Maoist had agreed to take the protesting UDMF into confidence to forward discussions on the Constitution Amendment Bill at the Parliament.

At a meeting held at UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s residence, the leaders said they would take initiative to bring the protesting alliance to consensus for amending the constitution to address its demands.

Suman said the Parliament meeting on Sunday is likely to be postponed by pasting a notice.

Meanwhile, UDMF leaders also raised the issue of attack on Chairman of Sadbhawana Party Rajendra Mahato by security forces today and told the leaders that such incidents wouldn’t create the appropriate environment for talks.

UCPN-M Chair Dahal had called Home Minister Shakti Basnet to know about the incident, but Basnet told Dahal he would inform later.