Implement 8-point pact for our support: Madhesi parties

KATHMANDU, May 11: Joint Madhesi Democratic Forum, has decided to put the implementation of eight-point agreement signed by the government with the Front on February 28,2008 as the precondition for its support to form a new ruling coalition. [break]



The alliance of three Madhesi political parties—Madhesi People’s Rights Forum, Tarai Madhess Democratic Party and Sadbhavana Party, decided that they should put the demand as main agenda for coalition-making negotiation with the Maoists and UML.



“We will start talks with the parties aspiring to lead the new coalition government today [Monday],” said MPRF spokesperson Jitendra Dev, a member in the three-party joint forum. The Front is set to hold talks with CPN-UML at the latter’s central office Monday afternoon.



The meeting also urged three big parties--Unified CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML--- to take immediate initiatives to end current political impasse.



"Nepal will become a federal democratic republican state realizing the desire for a federal structure with autonomous states by people of all sectors including the Madhesi people´s desire for an autonomous Madhes state,” the eight-point agreement.



The agreement signed by the then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum (MPRF) Chairman Upendra Yadav and Sadbhawana Party (SP) Chairman Rajendra Mahato also provides for group recruitment of Madhesi people into the Nepal Army on the basis of population.

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