Kathmandu, July 28

The United Democratic Madhesi Front will not hold negotiations with the four parties on constitutional issues.

Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav and Sadbhawana Party Chair Rajendra Mahato said they had held several rounds of talks with the four parties and the government in the past on constitutional issues and there was no need to hold talks any more.

“We do not need to hold talks on constitutional issues any more. It is time to implement the agreements that we had signed with the government and the parties,” Yadav added.

Yadav and Mahato said the major parties’ offer of talks was aimed at weakening Madhesis’ movement against the first draft.

Signatories to the 16-point agreement — Nepali Congress, UCPN-M, CPN-UML and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic — failed to hold planned negotiations with the constituents of UDMF today.

UML leader KP Sharma Oli had tweeted in the morning about his meeting with UDMF leaders, including Mahantha Thakur, but the meeting did not take place.

Thakur said NC Chief Whip Chin Kaji Shrestha called him and told him that Prime Minister Sushil Koirala wanted to meet him and the chiefs of the other three constituents of the UDMF, to which he said the other three leaders were out of Kathmandu. Thakur said he told Shrestha he would respond to the talks offer after consulting other leaders of the UDMF tomorrow.

Shrestha told Thakur to consult other UDMF leaders and attend a meeting tomorrow, but Thakur replied it would be better if he himself invited other UDMF leaders.