Talks between Madhesis, Nepal govt end inconclusively

A crucial meeting held among Nepal's ruling coalition, opposition and the agitating Indian-origin Madhesis to resolve the prevailing political deadlock in the country today failed to produce any concrete results.
The tripartite meeting among the ruling alliances CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist, the main opposition Nepali Congress and Joint Democratic Madhesi Front was held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar here.
Another round of talks will be held after four top UDMF leaders return from their planned visit to New Delhi beginning tomorrow during which they are expected to meet top Indian leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Upendra Yadav, President of Terai Madhes Democratic Party Mahantha Thakur, President of Sadbhawana Party Rajendra Mahato and Chairman of Terai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Mahendra Yadav will leave for New Delhi on Sunday, the Madhesi Front officially announced today.

The leaders met Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae at the Indian Embassy yesterday.
Today's meeting was earlier scheduled for yesterday but had to be postponed after the agitating Madhesi leaders failed to turn up.

The crucial meeting was held in a bid to resolve the months-long political crisis and border blockade facing Nepal following the promulgation of its new constitution in September, sources close to the Prime Minister said.
Nepal's top leaders, including Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala and UCPN-Maoist chief Prachanda, yesterday decided to amend the new Constitution within the next three months to address the demands of Madhesis.

Two major demands of the agitating Madhesi groups - proportionate representation and allocation of Parliament seats on the basis of population - are incorporated in the constitution amendment bill proposed by previous Nepali Congress led government.
Since the promulgation of the Constitution in Nepal in September, Madhesi population has been staging sit-ins on the border stopping flow of goods as they believe the country's new Constitution discriminates against them, denying them equal standing with other Nepalis.
The agitation has obstructed supply of essential commodities including petrol thereby creating a crisis in Nepal, which accused India of imposing a "economic blockade".

India maintains that it has imposed no such blockade, and the restrictions are a result of security concerns as Madhesis are protesting the new Constitution in the Terai region of Nepal bordering India.