The Terai region's Joint Democratic Madhesi Front (JDMF), protesting division of their ancestral homeland in the seven- province federal structure, came to the negotiating table for dialogue with the government's talks team in a development seen as a sign of potential rapprochement amid a violent, political unrest in the Himalayan nation.
However, the much-anticipated talks could not yield any result as the government representatives failed to present a clear road map to address their demands, according to one of the participants from the Madhesi groups.
Laxman Lal Karna from Sadbhawana Party said the government negotiators failed to present a solid proposal to end the protests.
The activity in southern Nepal bordering India has stalled normal life in the area for several weeks and halted the flow of fuel and supplies to the country's north, including the capital.
"We will not end our protests until our demands are addressed," he said.
In the meeting, the JDMF team put forth a proposal for the amendment of various provisions of the new Constitution, including those related to citizenship, demarcation of provinces, fixation of electoral constituencies based on population density and inclusive and proportional representation.
Meanwhile, Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhawana Party, Sarvendra Nath Shukla of Terai Madhesh Democratic Party, Lal Babu Raut of Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal and Ram Naresh Ray of Terai Madhesh Sadbhawana Party are members of the UDMF talks team.
"We are making all possible efforts to resolve this as soon as possible so that the suffering of the people of the country could end at the earliest," Minister Acharya said.
More than 40 people have died in the agitations launched by the Madhesis - the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region bordering India - and Tharu ethnic groups in southern plains, hitting hard normal life.