The success of Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli's visit to India depends on how he responds to the demands of agitators, a senior Madhesi leader on Saturday said as he stressed that their protest has only been temporarily suspended.
Rajendra Mahato, chairman of Sadbhawana Party -- a constituent of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), said the six-day visit beginning February 19 would be fruitful only if Oli expresses commitment to address their concerns.
"The people and the government of India have shown overwhelming support to our issues during the six-month-long agitation, launched by the UDMF, so if the Prime Minister wants to make his India visit successful, he should address our issues," Mahato told reporters in Kathmandu. The Nepal government should show positive gestures before Oli's visit to India begins so that he could get a positive response there, Mahato claimed.
Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin, have led a nearly six-month-long violent protest for better political representation, redrawing of the provincial boundaries and the federal structure of the
Constitution.