KATHMANDU, May 2: Talks between the government and the Tharu Joint Struggle Committee (TJSC) ended inconclusively Saturday evening after the Tharu leaders refused to call off the banda imposed 11 days ago. [break]
Two sides failed even to hold formal talks when Tharu leaders turned down a request by the government talks team leader, Peace Minister Janardan Sharma, to call off their strike before entering into the formal agenda.
“When the government talks team leader urged us to call off the banda before entering into the formal agenda, we refused,” said talks team leader of TJSC Dilli Bahadur Chaudhari. “We wanted the issues for which we called the banda to be discussed first.”
Minister Sharma, however, said the government has agreed to lift the curfew, provide free treatment to those injured, release the arrested and withdraw cases against Tharu activists--four fresh demands put forth by the Tharu activists on Saturday.
“We even proposed to form a team to recommend what changes the government needs to incorporate in the statute amendment and do as recommended by the panel,” said Sharma. “But they refused to call off the strike and enter into formal talks.”
Chaudhari, however, said eight laws needed to be changed to recognize the Tharus as an indigenous nationality in the Tarai.
Tharu activists said they would sit for talks only after the government comes up with clear views to address the demands they have put forth. Minister Sharma, however, said another round of talks will take place Sunday.
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