- Dialogue makes no headway, strikes likely to continue
- Exams postponed in Chitwan
Kamal Chaudhari funeral today
Lathi-wielding Tharus have blocked the Birgung-Pathlaiya section of the East-West Highway since morning. They have prevented any vehicular movement at Chhatapipara, Jitpur, Bajani, among other places, that fall in this section.
They have warned that they will intensify the protests if the government did not meet their demands. "Talks will go on, and so will our protests," said Brij Mohan Chaudhari, Parsa district chief of Thrauhat Swayatta Pradesh. "We will not end our banda (general strike) until all our demands are fulfilled."
The talks in the capital on Wednesday did not make much headway. The bone of contention was the Tharus’ demand for proportional reservation in all public services for ethnic groups on the basis of population.
The government talks team expressed its inability to agree to the demand.
On the issue of a controversial ordinance that enlists indigenous Tharus under “Madhesi” category, the government side has agreed to amend it. The government side has also agreed to amend other laws that stand in the way of giving the Tharus separate identity.
The talks will continue Thursday.
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