KATHMANDU, March 12: The talks between the government and the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) on Friday assigned Minister for Law and Justice Agni Kharel and Sadbhavana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna to study legal and procedural issues on forming a judicial commission to probe into the cases of human rights violation during the Madhes movement.
“The UDMF has demanded a judicial probe commission. Likewise, arguing that false cases are being filed against their cadres, the parties under the UDMF have been demanding withdrawal of such cases and charge sheets. Responding to the demands, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday asked Minister Agni Kharel to coordinate with Laxman Lal Karna of the UDMF to look into legal and procedural issues on forming the probe commission and withdrawal of such cases,” informed the prime minister’s press advisor Pramod Dahal.
“UDMF has been saying that the people injured in the Madhes protest have yet to get government support for their treatment and the prime minister briefed the UDMF leaders on the ongoing preparations for providing such support and assured that the cabinet will soon take necessary decision to speed it up,” Dahal added.
However, the talks did not enter into political issues and demands raised by the UDMF but rather focused on creating a trustworthy environment for political negotiations.
“The talks remained positive in the direction of creating conducive environment for further negotiations but we are yet to start discussions on political issues related to constitution,” said UDMF leader Karna.
Prime Minister Oli had invited the UDMF leaders for the talks when they reached the PM’s official residence Baluwatar on Friday morning to submit a memorandum with seven-point demand.
The seven-point demand incorporates issues of constitution amendment, treatment for those injured in Madhes protests and tackling the black market among other things. UDMF has also warned of stern protest if its demands are not addressed by mid-April. Likewise, the UDMF has demanded judicial probe into the government’s ‘suppression’ of Madhes protest, compensation for the victims, and revoking ‘false’ lawsuits.
The UDMF leaders had expressed dissatisfaction over not conducting serious discussion on their demands despite the withdrawal of their protest programs of blockage and general strike.
In the seven-point demand, the UDMF has reiterated the need for creating two autonomous provinces in Tarai-Madhes as per the report of the State Restructuring Commission and the agreements made with the Madhesis, indigenous and marginalized communities. Likewise, the UDMF has stressed delimiting electoral constituencies on the basis of population and allocating National Assembly seats to the provinces also on the basis of population. Likewise, the UDMF, expressing dissatisfaction over the recent amendment to the new constitution, has reiterated its demand for ensuring inclusive representation of different communities in state bodies.
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