Nepal Prime Minister invites agitating parties for talks

Nepal's new Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli today appealed to the agitating Madhesi groups to withdraw their protests over the Constitution and come forward for a dialogue to resolve their issues.
"I call upon the agitating political parties to withdraw their protest programmes in this festival season and come forward for a dialogue to resolve the issues," Oli said in his address to Parliament.
"We have made it clear that appropriate, lawful and logical demands can be addressed by amending the Constitution," Oli said.
Prime Minister Oli also thanked the dissenting parties for their contribution in implementing the Constitution by participating in election of Prime Minister.

The Madhesi parties had participated in the Prime Ministerial voting process though they have boycotted the Constitution drafting process.
Madhesis are Indian-origin people who are opposed to splitting Nepal into seven provinces.
Oli termed as unusual the situation arisen in the southern plains due to the blockade of key trade points with India. He said that the government is serious about the disruption of supply of essentials due to the blockade.
"Unobstructed transit is the right of the landlocked country and international laws have guaranteed such rights," Oli said, adding that there should not be any kind of obstruction in the free movement of goods at the border.