Chitwan, December 8

The two-day special national gathering of the ruling CPN-UML concluded today in Sauraha of Chitwan with heavy criticism of the leadership.

Extensive discussions were held on the four papers presented on behalf of the party today on the concluding day.

Genral Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel presented a paper on the party’s perspective on the problems created by Tarai agitation and their resolution, whereas Under General Secretary Ghana Shyam Bhusal’spaper was on the blockade at the border.

Likewise, secretaries Pradeep Gyawali and Bhim Acharya presented papers on Tarai-Madhes problems and socio-economic transformation and post-constitution scenario and necessary steps to be adopted by the party, respectively at the gathering.

During the interaction on the papers, leaders representing Madhes region criticised the party leadership saying that the party failed to come up with concrete plans and result oriented steps to resolve the Madhes issues and end the blockade at the Nepal-India border points.

They also accused the party leadership of ignoring the concerns of the Madhesi community.

However, they had mixed comments regarding the boundary delineation and fixing of constituencies based on population.

Dharma Nath Prasad Sah, a lawmaker from Siraha, said that the present problem in Madhes were not big. “It can easily be sorted out if only the central leaders change their attitude towards the region,” argued Sah.

Politburo member Ram Prit Paswan charged the party leadership of discrimination andpreventing Madhes-based leaders from holding leading positions in the party.

Scores of leaders demanded that the government start development works by taking Madhes as the base; asked the leaders to clarify whether the blockade wasofficial or unofficial; address the demands put forth by Madhes-based forces through dialogue and make the Tarai people understand the contents of the constitution, among others.

Senior leaders Madhev Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel, Under General Secretary Ghana Shyam Khadka, secretaries Pradeep Gyawali and Bhim Acharya had responded to the queries of the leaders and cadres.

The paper presented by Ishwor Pokhrel clearly states that all the demands put forth by the agitating Madhesi forces can’t be addressed.

Of the demands, participation based on proportional inclusiveness, fixation of constituency based on population, adoption of multi-languages policy and provincial territory delineation as per the recommendation of experts and political consensus can be considered, the paper states.

However, some of the demands of the forces are against national sovereignty and unity.

Meanwhile, UML Publicity Department Chief Yogesh Bhattarai said all the decisions made at the gathering will be made public at a press meet at the party’s office in Bharatpur tomorrow.