At a meeting of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) held in Singh Durbar on Friday, Sadbhawana Party (SP) strongly opposed the FDRA´s decision and demanded that the gatherings be cancelled. It said such gatherings would only widen differences between the ruling and opposition parties. But the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and (TMDP-N) maintained that the FDRA should not retract from the decision.[break]
Leaders from the Madhesi People´s Right Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) and MPRF-Republican also expressed reservations over the decision. “We should not participate in the gatherings as the decision has already angered the opposition parties. Such gatherings would only spoil the environment for talks," a Madhesi leader quoted SP Vice-chairman Laxman Lal Karna as saying at the meeting.
According to the leader, Karna also warned that his party would not participate in the gatherings.
"We should not back the UCPN (Maoist) on each and every issue. So, there is no need to organize gatherings," another Madhesi leader quoted MPRF-D Vice-chairman Rameshwar Raya Yadav as saying at the meeting.
However, TMDP Vice-chairman Hridayesh Tripathi stated that they should stick to their earlier decision. Similarly, TMDP-N Chairman Mahendra Yadav said it would not be proper to backtrack from the decision.
FDRA on September 22 had decided to hold mass gatherings in Biratnagar on October 3, Janakpur on October 5, Nepalgunj on October 7, Pokhara on October 9 and Kathmandu on October 12 in order to inform people about their stance on various issues including fresh election and the new constitution. Meanwhile, MPRF-D on Sunday formed a five-member talks team led by Vice-chairman Yadav on possible unification of Madhesi parties.
According to Yadav, his team will hold talks with various Madhesi parties on the issue.
MPRF and TMDP have already moved ahead for unification between the two Madhesi parties.
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