They have even warned of violent protests in the Tarai region if major political parties tried to introduce the new constitution forcefully without addressing the demands of the Madhesi and other marginalized groups.Speaking at a press conference in the capital on Thursday, Manish Sumam, general secretary of Sadbhawana Party, said that the agitating Madhesh-based parties will sit for dialogue with the government only on condition that major political parties stop the ongoing statute-drafting process for a while and agree to address their demands.
"On one hand, the government and major political parties maintain that they are ready to hold talks with us, and on the other hand, they government has continued to use excessive force upon the protestors. Instead of addressing our demands, they have moved on with the constitution-drafting process. In this situation, there is no condition of holding talks," he said.
He also said that withdrawing army mobilization from the Tarai region and declaring those killed in the recent protests as martyrs are also the major conditions to sit in for talks. "Otherwise, protests in Tarai will continue and the situation might even become worse."
He said that they will hold talks only with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.
Issuing a joint statement on Wednesday, three major political parties urged the agitating groups to call off their protests and seek solution thorough dialogue.
Ram Janam Chaudhary, general secretary of Madhesi People's Rights Forum Democratic (MPRF-D), accused the government and major parties for not being serious about negotiations.
"They are calling us for dialogue but they are doing almost nothing to create conducive environment for talks even after almost a month of protests in the Tarai. There will be another civil war in the country if the government continues to remain apathetic to our demands," he warned.
Subodh Kumar Pokharel, another senior leader of MPRF-D, said that the government should not hesitate to implement the accords it had made with the Madhesi people and Tharus in the past.
"If there are any factors triggering violent protests in the Tarai, they are the major parties and government's indifference toward our demands," he said.
Another senior Madhesi leader Ram Naresh Ray of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party, said that the agitating Madhesis themselves will decide their fate if the government continues to use force to suppress protests in the Tarai and neglect their demands.
Likewise, Raj Kishor Yadav, a leader of Madheshi Peoples Right Forum Republican also urged the government to prepare favorable environment for dialogue with the agitating parties.
"We also are for producing new constitution from the Constituent Assembly but we want to have our say and ownership on that," he said.
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