Janakpurdham, October 31

Leaders of United Democratic Madhesi Front today warned they would quit talks with the government if the dialogue slated for tomorrow does not yield positive results.

Talking to mediapersons before participating at the UDMF meeting in Janakpur, Mahantha Thakur, chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, accused the government of lying to the agitators in the name of talks. “We will not sit for further talks if tomorrow’s meeting is not meaningful,” Thakur said, charging the government of trying to prolong the dialogue to create illusion among people. He clarified that UDMF would not sit for meaningless talks. “We will not sit for talks unless the government comes fully prepared,” Thakur added.

Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav said the agitation would continue. “We doubt that the government is serious about talks with UDMF.” Yadav made it clear that talks would be meaningless if the government team did not come prepared. “We will not sit for meaningless talks,” Yadav reiterated. He warned that the agitation would intensify if the talks collapsed.

Coming down heavily on the government, Yadav warned that an end to dialogue would be declared if the government did not come fully prepared at tomorrow’s talks.

“We are waiting for the talks for the last time. If the government talks team says it is not prepared, we will declare an end to talks,” Yadav said.

Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chairman Mahendra Ray Yadav said that UDMF might change the form of agitation keeping in view Tihar and Chhath festivals.

“The agitation, however, will continue,” Yadav said. He said that people in the plains wanted to give continuity to the agitation. “We no longer want to be confused by the government’s farce of holding talks,” Yadav remarked. We understand the government is not serious about talks. So, we shall quit the talks after tomorrow, Yadav warned.

The government and UDMF talks teams are holding dialogue at the central office of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal at 1:00pm tomorrow in the Capital.

‘Govt ready to revise boundaries’

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Secretary Pradip Gyawali on Saturday expressed readiness to revise the boundaries of federal states based on the recommendation of the Federal Commission and agreement among political parties. “It will be better if the Federal Commission carries out this task as we can’t decide where to keep which district now,” he added. Madhesi parties have been demanding that the boundaries be redesigned. UDMF talks team member Lal Babu Raut said Madhesi parties would demand referendum if the government was reluctant to address their demands. A member of the talks team from Tharuwan/Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee, Aman Lal Modi, however, said Madhesi parties were ignoring the concerns of Tharu/Janajati communities. “If things go like this, the alliance with Madhesi parties will end,” he warned. —