Madhesi leaders reject Nepal government deal; meet NC leaders

Madhesi leaders on Tuesday rejected Nepal government’s “abstract” proposal to accommodate some of their demands by amending the new Constitution, dimming hopes of an early end to the political crisis plaguing the country.

Upendra Yadav, one of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) leaders spearheading the agitation in southern Nepal, said: “Abstract proposal won’t solve the current crisis.”  Yadav, chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, said the UDMF has rejected the proposal.

“Front’s major demands include delineation of provinces, population as basis for constituencies and proportional representation. They should be addressed immediately,” he said.

Jitendra Sonal, another senior leader of the UDMF, said their agitation and blockade would continue till the government meet all demands put forth by Madhesi parties.

He was talking to the media during a sit-in at Miteri Pul, the bridge linking India’s Raxaul and Birgunj of Nepal. Sonal, of the Terai Madhes Democratic Party, termed the three-point roadmap prepared by Nepal government “faulty” and thus unacceptable to the UDMF.

However, after UDMF-NC talks at party president Sushil Koirala’s residence in Maharajgunj, Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya said the meeting was heading towards a positive direction.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the 11-point demands presented by the front. NC urged Madhesi groups to take up their issues through the Constitution amendment process, Acharya said.

Meanwhile, welcoming India’s statement on its efforts to break deadlock with the Madhesis as “positive”, Nepal today said it believes such gestures would help in normalising the situation and restoring the supply system across the Indo-Nepal border.

“The statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry of India on Monday was positive and encouraging,” the Nepalese Foreign Ministry said in statement.

“The government believes that these positive gestures from the friendly neighbour would be instrumental in normalising the existing situation as well as restoring normalcy of supply system across Nepal-India border,” the statement said.