“We are holding a meeting of top office-bearers on Thursday to present our views on the UDMF concept paper,” said Maoist Vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha. The Maoists have already responded to the UDMF demands verbally, but the latter has been demanding that the Maoists respond in writing. [break]
UDMF comprises Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party, which together hold 82 seats in parliament. Their support to the Maoists will be enough for forming a Maoist-led government.
Shrestha said the Maoists will prepare their views without violating the party´s official policy.
He said the Maoists would not accept the UMDF demand for turning the whole Tarai region into a single autonomous province, though the party does not object to the formation of an autonomous Madhes province. The party has already agreed to forming two provinces in the region.
Similarly, the party would also not accept the Madhesi demand for standard norms for the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants. “We cannot accept the demand if the sense is to recruit the combatants into the security forces,” he said.
Shrestha also said the party cannot accept pluralism as a philosophy in the new constitution, but it can accept a competitive political system.
But the Maoists are ready to hold further talks on bulk recruitment of Madhesis into the security forces including the Nepal Army.
“We do not disagree over the main spirit of the concept paper. So we hope they would support us in forming a government, though we are yet to reach an agreement,” said Shrestha.
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