Madhesi leaders meet Indian Foreign Secy. Jaishankar in Nepal

Leaders of Nepal's Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) met Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar at Hotel Dwarika's in Kathmandu on Monday.

Foreign Secretary Jaishankar arrived here today to attend the 37th SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in Pokhara, who will host the meeting between March 16 -18 with the ministerial meeting scheduled to be held on March 17.

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will arrive tomorrow morning for the meet.

Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal leader Ashok Rai, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav, Sadbhawana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna, Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chairman Anil Jha, Forum Ganantrik Chairman Raj Kishor Yadav, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party General Secretary Sarbendra Nath Sukla and Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party Spokesperson Keshav Jha were present during an hour-long meeting, reports the Kathmandu Post.

According to reports, Jaishankar at the meeting enquired about the status of Madhesi agitation and recent activities of Madhesi's.

The Kathmandu Post according to their sources said that leaders informed Jaishankar that the Nepal government has not yet addressed their demands.

The leaders even informed that they have issued an ultimatum to the government until mid April to address the same.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar conveyed that India wants to see an early solution to the Madhesi crisis in Nepal and assured that he would raise the concerns during his meetings with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, reports the Kathmandu Post.

The Indian foreign secretary had visited Nepal last year in September as a special envoy to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi two days prior to the historic adoption of new constitution of Nepal.