Meeting ended on positive note, says PM's advisor

KATHMANDU, March 30: The government on Tuesday held talks with the agitating groups demanding the release of lawmaker Resham Chaudhary.

A government team led by Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa held first round of talks with three different groups namely Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, Tharuwan-Tharuhat Struggle Committee and Central Movement Operation Committee at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singha Durba today afternoon.

The government's dialogue team comprised Dr Rajan Bhattarai, PM KP Sharma Oli’s foreign affairs advisor, and former lawmaker Bhagwati Chaudhary.

On behalf of the agitating side, Rukmini Chaudhary of Tharuwan-Tharuhat Struggle Committee, Prem Lal Chaudhary, Padam Narayan Chaudhary, Chandra Bahadur Chaudhary and Prabhat Chaudhary attended the meeting.  

Foreign affairs advisor Bhattarai tweeted that the meeting with the agitating side ended on a positive note. "We also agreed to hold another round of talks very soon," Bhatarai said.

Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, Tharuwan-Tharuhat Struggle Committee and Central Movement Operation Committee have been staging a sit-in at Maitighar, Kathmandu presenting a 19-point demand including the release of lawmaker Chaudhary. Chaudhary was elected from Kailali-1 to the House of Representatives (HoR) in the general elections held in 2017.  

The agitating groups have demanded to withdraw criminal cases filed against Dhaniram Chaudhary, chairperson of the Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha.

Chaudhary, along with seven other individuals, was convicted of killing eight police personnel and a minor in Tikapur, Kailali on August 24, 2015. He is currently serving his jail term in Dillibazar Prison.

 
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