Blockade, causing hardships not correct: Minister to Madhesis

A senior Nepalese minister today told agitating Indian-origin Madhesis that creating a "humanitarian crisis" by imposing a blockade along the Indo- Nepal border is not a solution to address their demands.
Amid a stalemate over Nepal's new Constitution with talks between the government and the Madhesi Front ending inconclusively for a second day yesterday, Minister for Information and Communication Sherdhan Rai said the Nepalese government would soon hold decisive talks with the Madhesis.
Solution cannot be reached by creating a humanitarian crisis with the imposition of a border blockade, Rai said at an event in Bhaktapur near here.
"The government has put the task of resolving the problems of Madhes in the top priority," pointed out Rai, who is also the government spokesperson.

"Dialogue and discussion are the only way to seek a solution to the ongoing problem. We have urged the neighbouring country (India) and Madhes-based political parties to find solution through dialogue," he said.
The Indian-origin Madhesis are agitating against the new Constitution over, among other things, better representation and division of their homeland.

He stressed the need to resolve the problem at the earliest as the country's losses due to the border blockade have been greater than the recent earthquake.
"Promulgating the new constitution through democratic way by the Constituent Assembly incorporating all groups, communities, languages and religions is the achievement of the country," he added.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Agni Kharel at a separate programme said that the provincial boundary could not be delineated that would hit people's sentiment, nationality and national integrity.
Addressing a programme in the capital today, Minister Kharel added that the delineation of provinces could not be changed by imposing border blockade and causing hardships to the people.
He pointed out that the provinces should be formed maintaining the unity among the hill, mountain and Terai as per the geographical condition of the country.
The issues raised from the home-ground could be discussed but not those from across the border, he added.