UDMF to form separate task force

Kathmandu, January 4

A meeting of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front held here today to take a decision on the three major parties’ proposal to send its representative to the three parties’ task force, which is mandated to suggest changes in the constitution amendment bill, failed to take any decision because of the absence of senior leaders of the UDMF constituents.

However, the leaders attending today’s meeting agreed to form a separate task force to work out a detailed draft based on their 11-point demands.

Vice-Chairperson of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Hridayesh Tripathi said today’s UDMF meeting dwelt on their agitation plan, as the protest programmes announced a few days ago concluded yesterday.

It also decided to form a separate task force to draft changes in the amendment bill based on their demands.

He said the meeting could not take any concrete decision because Chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Upendra Yadav was in Birgunj, Chairperson of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Mahendra Raya Yadav was in Sarlahi and Sadbhawana Party’s Chairperson Rajendra Mahato was undergoing treatment in Delhi.

The next meeting of the UDMF scheduled for Tuesday morning will hold discussion on the two agendas, added Tripathi.

Senior leader of the Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal Ram Naresh Ray said since the three major parties formed their task force without consulting the UDMF, the front was of the view that it should not send its representative to that task force.

“We are only concerned about our 11-point demands.

If we have to discuss with the three major parties our 11-point demands, our talks team will hold discussion with the major parties or if we have to form our separate task force for the same, we will do so by inducting one representative from each of UDMF constituents,” Ray said.

He added that it made no sense for the UDMF to send one representative to the three parties’ task to merely discuss the constitution amendment bill.

FSF-N Co-chair Rajendra Shrestha said they had an informal discussion on the latest political development, including formation of a task force.

Yesterday, during their meeting with the government and the main opposition party, the UDMF was urged to provide the name of its representative to be included in the task force that comprised leaders of NC, UML and Unified CPN-Maoist.