Taskforce asked to draft political body ToR by Sunday

Cross-party leaders suggest PM not to sign any controversial deal with India

KATHMANDU, Feb 13: A meeting of top leaders from the three major political parties has entrusted the joint taskforce with drafting the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the proposed political mechanism for studying and suggesting ways to resolve the disputes over provincial boundaries.

The joint taskforce, which comprises representatives from the three major political parties and the agitating Madhes-based parties, has been asked to prepare the ToR of the proposed political body by Sunday.

The leaders have intensified their negotiations in recent days with a view to forming the political body before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli leaves for his India visit on February 19.

Defense Minister Bhim Rawal, who is also vice-chairman of the CPN-UML, said the top leaders' meeting has given a broader framework for the taskforce to prepare the ToR.

"We are told to prepare a ToR that would mandate the political body to offer suggestions for resolving provincial boundary disputes," said Rawal, who is also a member of the taskforce, after the meeting.

The leaders have also reached an understanding that the United Democratic Madhesi Front, the alliance of agitating Madhesi parties, will also prepare a separate ToR.
"At the meeting on Sunday, top leaders from both sides will hold discussions on both the drafts, prepared by the two teams, and finalize the ToR," Pramod Dahal, the prime minister's press advisor, told Republica.

According to Dahal, leaders are for finalizing the ToR by Sunday and forming the political committee the same day.
Rawal said that they are for forming the committee ahead of the prime minister's India visit "because that will give a message to the international community that Nepal's political leadership is competent enough to resolve its internal political issues on its own."

PM suggested not to sign new deal in India

Leaders from various political parties have suggested to Prime Minister Oli to focus on implementation of the past agreements reached with India.

"We have suggested to the prime minister to focus on implementation of past agreements instead of signing any new deals," Nepali Congress Acting President Ram Chandra Poudel told Republica.

The suggestions were offered at an all-party meeting called by the prime minister with a view to seeking suggestions from them for his upcoming India visit.
Also, most leaders from various political parties underscored that no controversial deal should be signed during the visit.

"The prime minister has assured all the leaders that he would not reach any deal that would undermine Nepal's dignity in the name of doing something and give and take with the neighboring country," said the prime minister's chief advisor, Bishnu Rimal. "The prime minister has said that any deal will be done based on mutual benefit for the two countries."