UDMF forms talks team; to continue protests

KATHMANDU, Oct 5: Agitating four Madhes-based parties under the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) on Sunday formed a four-member talks team for political negotiations with the major three parties on constitutional issues.

A meeting of the top UDMF leaders on Sunday formed the talks team that includes Sadbhavana Party Co-Chair Laxman Lal Karna, Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Vice-Chairman Lal Babu Raut, Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) General Secretary Sarvendra Nath Shukla and Tarai-Madhes Sadbhavana Party, Nepal (TMSPN) leader Ram Naresh Raya."Though we drew a conclusion that the government and major three parties are not serious about settling things through dialogue and negotiations, we have formed a talks team since we are not opposed to talks for resolving the problems," said TMDP spokesperson Shukla.

"During informal talks with the talks team formed by the government, we had repeatedly asked them to come up with concrete proposals on key constitutional issues. Though the government has said that the constitutional amendment process on two of our demands has already started, they have not uttered even a single word about our major concern, the delineation of provinces," he added.

Despite forming the talks team, the UDMF meeting has also decided to continue the protest programs including non-cooperation against the government, blockades at customs points and obstruction of highways.

"We are in no mood to weaken the current protest under the pretext of sitting for talks because the big three parties are still not serious about addressing our demands. On the one hand, they have formed a talks team but on the other hand, they have already started a fight over forming new government," said Shukla.

"As the major political parties are focusing on government formation by ignoring our demands, ongoing protests, deaths in the Tarai and blockade, we could not change the current forms of our protests," he added.

The talk team formed by the major three parties, during the informal meetings with TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur, had urged the agitating parties to end the blockade before starting political negotiations.

According to Sadbhavana Party General Secretary Manish Suman, the UDMF will continue blockade on customs checkpoints but will also sit on negotiations for fulfilling their demands through constitution amendment.

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