Leaders discuss agitating parties’ demands

Yadav, Thakur in capital for talks

KATHMANDU, Sept 2: Leaders of major political parties have begun informal talks about how to address the demands of the disgruntled groups in various Tarai districts against the proposed provincial demarcations and some other provisions in the draft constitution.

The major political parties took the initiatives as Chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Upendra Yadav and Chairman of Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Mahantha Thakur have arrived in Kathmandu while the protests in the districts have heated up in the last couple of days.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai of the same party talked with Thakur on Tuesday and discussed how to settle the issues.

“They (Dahal and Bhattarai) asked me about the bottom-line of our demands and a solution to the current crisis. I told them that a solution can be found once the big parties agree to settle the issues based on the past agreements reached with us,” Thakur told Republica. “But the government is trying to suppress the people’s voice through use of force.”

Thakur sees chances of settling the issues in the next couple of days if the major parties respond their demands seriously. “The problem can be solved once leaders become ready to accommodate our issues through amendments to the constitution bill,” he said.
Thakur said he arrived in Kathmandu to discuss with ‘friends’ from various sectors and to create an environment for making the agitation successful.

After holding talks with Thakur at Dahal’s residence in Lazimpat, the UCPN (Maoist) chairman and Bhattarai held a meeting with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday evening.

“The two leaders urged the prime minister to seek solution to the demands of the agitating parties’ through dialogues. And the prime minister has committed to intensify talks with the disgruntled sides,” informed Bhattarai’s personal aide Bishwadeep Pandey.

Yadav’s aide Mahesh Chaurasiya said the FSFN Chairman is planning to talk with civil society members, international community and people from various walks of life. He is also lobbying for the withdrawal of security forces and to stop excessive use of force in the Tarai districts.

Sources said a group of second-rung leaders from the NC and UML, including Mahesh Acharya of the NC and Bishnu Paudel of UML, are trying to create a ground for talks with the agitating parties. The agitating Madhes-based parties and Tharu communities have snubbed formal negotiations even after repeated calls for talks by the prime minister.

“It is very unfortunate that the agitating parties have snubbed the government’s repeated request for talks while the protests have taken violent and communal forms,” said UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali. “Moreover, it seemed that the protest in the Madhes region is out of leaders’ control and heading to nowhere.”