UDMF leaders hold talks with Nepal PM Oli

Leaders of Nepal's United Democratic Madhesi Front (UMDL) held talks with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli yesterday for the first time since withdrawing their protests that included a border blockade over the new constitution.

The UDMF leaders submitted a seven- point memorandum to Oli urging his government to address their demand before mid-April.

Oli assured the leaders that his government would bear the expenses for those injured during the protest, said the Co-chair of the Sadbhawana Party, Laxman Lal Karna, reports the Himalayan Times.

Karna also said that Agni Prasad Kharel , the Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs was asked to give suggestions on the UDMF's demand to withdraw cases against its cadres and to form a judicial committee to investigate into protest related deaths within a day or two.

Though no political issues were discussed in the meeting, Prime Minister Oli said that he had formed a political committee under Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa and the UDMF should join it to find solution to the issues of provincial boundaries.

"We did not have enough time to discuss these issues, but we asked the prime minister whether the prominent leaders of the major parties and the Nepali Congress would join the Thapa led committee," the Himlayan Times quoted Karna, as saying.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Oli told UDMF leaders that political issues will be focused upon once pending issues are resolved.